Phthirapteran.
/(f)θʌɪˈrapt(ə)rə/, U.S. /θaɪˈræptərə/ Entomology.
With plural agreement. An order of insects comprising the biting lice ( Mallophaga, mainly parasites of birds) and the sucking lice ( Siphunculata, mainly parasites of mammals).Also called Anoplura, but this name has also often been used for the sucking lice alone. Cf. mallophagan n.
ΚΠ
1949 Evolution 3 279 The Mallophaga or chewing lice are placed as one of the sub-orders of the Phthiraptera, the other being the Anoplura or sucking lice of mammals.
1961 Systematic Zool. 10 94 Should we recognize but a single order Phthiraptera in place of separate Siphunculata and Mallophaga?
1991 Amer. Naturalist 137 624 The remaining 11 orders..account for only 2% of the world fauna. Such taxa include..parasites (Phthiraptera, Siphonaptera, Strepsiptera), and orders with fewer than 2,000 species worldwide (Mecoptera, Dermaptera, Embioptera, and Psocoptera).
2004 Pest Control (Nexis) 1 Jan. 31 Lumpers prefer to keep all the lice together in the order Phthiraptera.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1949