biting louse; chewing louse
Refers to lice of the order Mallophaga, which feed on skin debris, feathers, or fur rather than blood. A technical zoological term.
Biting lice parasitize the feathers or fur of birds and mammals.
This chewing louse feeds on skin flakes.
Kanji form is rare and may not be widely recognized; the katakana spelling is preferred.
Compound of 羽 (ha, 'feather') and 虱 (shirami, 'louse'), referring to lice that live on feathers or fur. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.