Amblycera

Amblycera is a parvorder of chewing lice from the infraorder Phthiraptera. The lice are ectoparasites and spend their entire lives parasitizing their hosts. Amblycera tend to mostly feed on birds, and have specialized anatomy to assist in feeding. The lice undergo a three part process of metamorphosis and survive around thirty days after moulting into an adult. They rely on a combination of skin debris and blood for nutrients to sustain themselves. Amblycera are distributed globally, and are very host–specific.