Mallophaga

Mallophaga, a group of Rhynchota (q.v.), including the Bird-lice. They are all of them parasitic on birds; they live either by sucking the blood or eating the young feathers of the host. Some species, however, occur also on the mammals, in which case they live on the young hairs. The Mallophaga are sometimes included with the true Lice (q.v.), as the order Anoplura.