Did you know that Neotrogla Curvata is a species of barklice found in Brazilian caves? These are a rare occurrence in which the sex organs are reversed, or that the female penetrates the male and absorb nutrients through his seminal fluid. These are very small insects, measuring about 3mm long, so they can survive on fewer resources in a cave environment.
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The human louse (Pediculus humanus) is a species of louse found worldwide. As parasites, they exclusively inhabit the hair of humans (Homo sapiens). The species is divided into two subspecies based on the part of the body in which they specialize; Pediculus humanus capitis, aka head lice, arefound on the head, while Pediculus humanus humanus, or cooties, only parasitize the body. Both species may also be found on human clothing, although P. h. humanus is more common than their head-exclusive counterpart.
Both subspecies are characterised by a small head, a bulbous abdomen, and legs which end in sharp claws suitable for clinging to hair. They are generally grey or pale yellow in color, although their abdomens may turn red when they feed. Head lice are usually smaller than body lice; the former only reaches 1-2 mm (0.03-0.07 in) in length, while the latter can reach up to 3.5 mm (0.13 in). In both species, the males are slightly smaller and have a more pointed abdomen and longer forelimbs.
Human lice feed exclusively on the blood of humans. Adults have specialized mouthparts which enable them to pierce the skin and draw blood. Individuals must feed at least once every other day, or starve to death. Because of their host specialization, P. humanus have no natural predators, although they are frequently removed by their hosts via natural and chemical means.
P. humanus have an extremely rapid reproductive cycle. After mating, females use a keritan-based glue to attach attach a number of eggs to their hosts' hair; head lice can lay 4-6 eggs a day for a total of 150 eggs over her lifetime, while cooties can lay up to 10 eggs a day adding up to 300 eggs over her life. The eggs, or 'nits', of both species hatch within a week, and immediately begin feeding on their host. Nymphs molt three times and reach full maturity within 2-3 weeks. Males die soon after mating, and females die within a month of their final molt.
Conservation status: P. humanus has not been evaluated by the IUCN. They are an extremely widespread species, and considered pests throughout their range.
here's a little Mesopsocus, famous for being nature's take on the concept of little aliens who ride flying saucers. these things are always ridiculous, but they're usually pale greys and browns - the custard color on this one makes it look even more like a fake knickknack a quirky old lady would have in her hallway somewhere
Anatomy: small body with a relatively-generalized insectoid body plan and soft, segmented abdomen; large forehead; most have chewing mouthparts while sucking lice (Infraorder Phthiraptera) suck fluids through a small proboscis that is usually kept inside of their head; large compound eyes, and three ocelli (parasitic lice have reduced compound eyes and no ocelli); wings, if present, are held tent-like over the body; legs are slender and adapted for jumping; abdomen has no cerci
Diet: fungi, algae, lichen, organic detritus, starch-based household items; parasitic species feed on skin, debris, blood, and/or other secretions
Metamorphosis: hemimetabolous
Habitat: worldwide, in every habitat (even in the Antarctic, where penguins carry 15 species of lice)
Evolved in: Late Jurassic
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The large-winged barklice genus, Neotrogla, contains the only known insects where females possess a penis-like organ and take on typical male sex roles.
Like aphids, many psocids are parthenogenic, and the presence of males may even vary between different races of the same species.
Lice are divided into two main groups: sucking lice, which obtain their nourishment from feeding on the oils and body fluids of their host; and chewing lice, which are scavengers, feeding on skin, fragments of feathers or hair, and debris found on the host's body. Many lice are specific to a single species of host and have evolved alongside it. In some cases, they live on only a particular part of the body. Some animals are known to host up to fifteen different species, although one to three is typical for mammals, and two to six for birds. Lice generally cannot survive for long if removed from their host. If their host dies, lice can opportunistically use phoresis to hitch a ride on a fly and attempt to find a new host.
Some species of chewing lice house symbiotic bacteria in bacteriocytes in their bodies. These assist in digestion and if the insect is deprived of them, it will die.
Lice have been the subject of significant DNA research in the 2000s that led to discoveries on human evolution. The three species of sucking lice that parasitize human beings belong to two genera, Pediculus and Pthirus: Head Lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) (image 2), Body Lice (Pediculus humanus humanus), and Pubic Lice (Pthirus pubis). Human Head and Body Lice (genus Pediculus) share a common ancestor with Chimpanzee Lice (Pediculus shaeffi), while Pubic Lice (genus Pthirus) share a common ancestor with Gorilla Lice (Pthirus gorillae). Using phylogenetic and cophylogenetic analysis, Reed et al. hypothesized that Pediculus and Pthirus are sister taxa and monophyletic. In other words, the two genera descended from the same common ancestor. The age of divergence between Pediculus and its common ancestor is estimated to be 6-7 million years ago, which matches the age predicted by chimpanzee-hominid divergence. Because parasites rely on their hosts, hostāparasite cospeciation events are likely. Genetic evidence suggests that human ancestors acquired pubic lice from gorillas approximately 3-4 million years ago.
While parasitic lice are by far the most famous psocids, most are of the barklice variety: small scavengers that do not bite humans, and aid decomposition by feeding on detritus.
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I seem to have discovered a new friend in the house this morning. I think??? this is a common barklouse but it's a new species to me so I'm not sure if there are similar lookalikes here in Ohio. (I've put him on iNat to hopefully confirm.)
Either way my little friend is very striking once I pulled out the good camera to get up close shots!
(Sorry if this is a bother I'm just so glad there are people with blogs here who appreciate the discovery of bugs I've never seen before š Our biodiversity in my localized area has been dropping so much and it's been exciting to see how much change has happened since we finally had new neighbors move in who agreed to stop mowing a patch of the shared yard and let things just grow back natural!)
Bark Louse in Ohio:
I mean, it looks like the common Bark Louse, MetylophorusĀ novaescotiae, family Psocidae, to me.