Bird louse

Humans have only two or three species of lice, yet many bird species have many more than that. This is a louse that feeds on feathers, although the effects of these lice on the health of their avian hosts in unknown. We collect such lice on Field Museum expeditions in order to gain insights into both their evolution and that of their hosts, as well as to study their potential in spreading diseases.

Photo © Federico Pardo / The Field Museum