Scanning Electron Microscope Studies on Head Louse,Pediculus humanus capitis (Anoplura : Pediculidae)

The external anatomy of male and female adults, egg operculum and 1st inster larva of human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer, 1778, were studied with a scanning electron microscope. The morphological aspects of the antennal sense organs in adult and larva were also described. The peg organ located at the apical region of antennae possesses 10 sensory hairs in adult and 8 in larva. Two tuft organs with 4 to 6 sensory hairs and 2 or 3 pore organs were also existed on the antennal surface of the adult and larva. The egg operculum has 6 to 10 aeropyles but none was found with reticulum structure between the aeropyles