"So, naturalists observe, a flea has smaller fleas that on him prey; and these have smaller still to bite ’em; and so proceed ad infinitum."
- Jonathan Swift

February 25, 2010

February 25 - Rallicola deckeri


Rallicola deckeri is a new species of chewing louse that was recently discovered on a Ruddy Woodcreeper in Campeche, Mexico. The other lice that have graced this site, Pediculus humanus humanus and Pediculus humanus capitis were both sucking lice. Chewing lice (Mallophaga) typically feed on skin or feathers and most commonly parasitize birds. They often have elongated bodies, but wide, flat heads.

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