Common name: Louse (singular), Lice (plural)
Order name: Phthiraptera (phthir, lice; aptera, wingless)
Lice are small, wingless ectoparasites of birds and mammals.
These insects were formerly divided into two separate orders, the Mallophaga (chewing lice) and Anoplura (sucking lice).
The sucking lice contains several species that are parasites of domestic animals and two species attack humans.
For additional information: http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/compendium/phthir~1.html