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.
Katakana spelling is common for this zoological term; usually written in kana.
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.