Ricinidae

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Ricinidae (order Phthiraptera, suborder Amblycera) Family of chewing lice, which are parasitic on birds of the order Passeriformes. Members of the family are distinguished from all other Amblycera by the lack of labial palps, by the presence of pallettes, and by the fusion of the mesonotum, metanotum, and first abdominal tergum. Many of the species feed on blood, and members of one genus, Trochiloecetes, have developed piercing mouth-parts analogous to those of the sucking lice. The family comprises three genera: Ricinus, Trochiloecotes, and Trochiliphagus, the first being world-wide in distribution and the other two confined to humming-birds in the New World. There are about 70 species.

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