CHAPTER XXIV 



THE ANOPLURA 



These insects are the sucking lice which attack mammals, and mam- 

 mals only. They are small, wingless insects from about one twenty-fifth 

 to one-fourth of an inch in length, and with mouth parts for sucking. The 

 head is usually rather pointed in front and is often joined to the thorax 

 by a distinct neck which permits its free movement. The distinction 

 between thorax and abdomen is less evident, the constriction there being 

 practically non-existent. The legs, which join the thorax well out on its 

 sides, are constructed for climbing and grasping, and each ends in a 

 single claw, so placed with reference to the rest of the leg that it can 

 tightly grasp a hair, the claw on one side and the tibia on the other. 

 The eyes are rudimentary or absent in some cases. 



The group may be defined as: 



Small, wingless insects with sucking mouth parts, feeding on the blood 

 of mammals. Eyes present or absent. Tarsi each with one claw. Meta- 

 morphosis incomplete. 



FIG. 156. Samples of Anoplura or Sucking Lice, greatly enlarged. (After Dalla Torre.) 



Anoplura (Fig. 156) occur on man, monkeys, domestic animals, rats, 

 mice, rabbits, squirrels, the elephant, etc., and one genus is found on the 

 seal. The mouth consists of a flexible proboscis which may be drawn 

 in or pushed out, turning inside out as it goes and exposing some chiti- 

 nous hooks which attach themselves to the skin of the host. Lodged 

 in the head are two long, slender, sharp-pointed structures called stabbers, 

 one, possibly both, apparently double in nature but more or less fused, 

 and so placed as to form a canal between them through which saliva may 



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