Classification
Scientific name = Pediculus humanus
Common name = Human Lice
The origin of this species name was derived by Linnaeus in 1785.
Domain - Eukarya
Kingdom -
Animalia
Phylum - Arthropoda
Class - Insecta
Order - Phthiraptera
Family - Pediculidae
Genus - Pediculus
Species – Pediculus humanus
Domain - Eukarya
There are three monophyletic domains recognized: Eukarya, Bacteria,
and Archaea. The domain Eukarya consists of organisms whose cells
contain a membrane-bound nucleus
(Hickman et al. 2009).
Kingdom – Animalia
This kingdom is also referred to as metazoan. Metazoans are
multicellular animals that are heterotrophic. The characteristic
that distinguish kingdom Animalia and Plantae are the cell walls
present in kindom Plantae, but lacking in kingdom Animalia. The
simplest metazoans demonstrate a cellular (level) grade of
organization which are not strongly associated to perform a
collective function, and more complex demonstrate a cell-tissue
grade which consist of cells that work closely together to function
as a unit. When many tissues work together, they function as at the
tissue-organ system level, which is level of organization of the
majority of metazoans
(Hickman et al. 2009).
Phylum – Arthropoda
This phylum is a very diverse group includes more species that any
other phylum combined. The arthropods are the most successful
organisms on this Earth. The reason for this is because of their
flexible chitinous exoskeleton that consists of an inner think
procuticle and an outer thin epitcuticle used for protection and
support. The arthropods undergo ecdysis which means they shed or
molt the exoskeleton on average four to seven times during their
life span as a means of growing. Arthropods display bilateral
symmetry. They have paired, jointed appendages and a metameric body
of segments fused together called tagmata. The tagma is broken into
parts, the head, trunk, thorax, and abdomen. They have well
developed sense organs. This group is tripoblasic which means three
germ layers including endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm. They display
a reduced true coelomate and a true digestive system consisting of
both a mouth and anus. The circulatory system is open and contains a
dorsal heart, arteries and sinuses that make up the hemocoel (Animal
Diversity Web 2010).
Respiration takes place through the body surface or by other
structures such as gills, tracheae, or book lungs. Most arthropods
are dioecious, having male and female organs in separate
individuals, and reproduce by internal fertilization
(Hickman et al. 2009).
Class – Insecta
This is the largest most diverse class in the Phylum Arthropoda.
Insects have three pair of legs and most times have two pair of
wings. This group is largely successful that can be found in just
about all types of habitats because of their wings, tiny size and
adaptable nature. The body of an insect is composed of three tagmata
including the head, thorax, and abdomen. The digestive tract is
complete and complex. Insects are dioecious that undergo internal
fertilization
(Hickman et al. 2009). They grow by the process of ecdyisis which means they
shed their exoskeleton. They have many sensory organs such as
compound eyes. The tracheal system provides gas exchange without
using pigments that transmit oxygen. Most insects transform or
“metamorphosis” from egg, larva, pupa, to adult, and each stage
looks distinctly different from one another.
Order – Phthiraptera
Order Pthiraptera is commonly known as lice. Lice are very small,
flattened, wingless ectoparasites that will cling to a vertebrate
host and live there the entirety of its life cycle
(Marshall 2006). The term ectoparasite refers to a parasite that lives on the outside of the
host. There are two types of lice in Order Phthirapters, sucking
lice and chewing lice.
Family – Pediculidae
This is the family of the first type of lice previously mentioned,
sucking lice. The sucking lice are parasitic on some primates in
which humans are included.
Genus - Pediculus
Pediculus is a genus that contains four species. Two of
these are parasitic on humans, Pediculus humanus
humanus and Pediculus humanus capitis.
One is a parasite of the chimpanzee, and one is a parasite to spider
monkeys.
Species – Pediculus humanus
This species, Pediculus humanus, is the scientific
name for human lice and can ultimately live anywhere humans live.
They reside on the human body or the clothes of humans.
Pediculus humanus is a small insect with a large
abdomen. Sharp claws are used for holding on to the host.
Their life cycle consists of eggs or “nits”, young lice or “red
backs”, initial ingestion of red blood, and “grey backs”, after
digestion takes place
(Animal Diversity Web 2010).