''Pediculus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

sucking lice Sucking lice (Anoplura, formerly known as Siphunculata) have around 500 species and represent the smaller of the two traditional superfamilies of lice. As opposed to the paraphyletic chewing lice, which are now divided among three suborders, the ...

, the sole genus in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Pediculidae. ''Pediculus'' species are

ectoparasite Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson ha ...

s of primates. Species include: *'' Pediculus clavicornis'' Nitzsch, 1864 *''

Pediculus humanus ''Pediculus humanus'' is a species of louse that infects humans. It comprises two subspecies: *''Pediculus humanus humanus'' Linnaeus, 1758 – body louse *''Pediculus humanus capitis'' De Geer, 1767 – head louse The head louse (''Pedicul ...

'' Linnaeus, 1758 **'' Pediculus humanus humanus'' Linnaeus, 1758 – the body louse **'' Pediculus humanus capitis'' De Geer, 1767 – the head louse *'' Pediculus mjobergi'' Ferris, 1916 *'' Pediculus schaeffi'' Fahrenholz, 1910 Humans are the hosts of ''Pediculus humanus''. Chimpanzees and

bonobo The bonobo (; ''Pan paniscus''), also historically called the pygmy chimpanzee and less often the dwarf chimpanzee or gracile chimpanzee, is an endangered great ape and one of the two species making up the genus '' Pan,'' the other being the co ...

s host ''Pediculus shaeffi''. Various New World monkeys in the families

Cebidae The Cebidae are one of the five families of New World monkeys now recognised. Extant members are the capuchin and squirrel monkeys. These species are found throughout tropical and subtropical South and Central America. Characteristics Cebid ...

and

Atelidae The Atelidae are one of the five family (biology), families of New World monkeys now recognised. It was formerly included in the family Cebidae. Atelids are generally larger monkeys; the family includes the howler monkey, howler, spider monkey, ...

host ''Pediculus mjobergi''.

References

Lice {{louse-stub