Abstract

GUZMAN-TORRES, Mirely  and  CANO-SANTANA, Zenón. Updated list of lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from Mexico: distribution, richness, specificity and human pediculosis. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2021, vol.92, e923800.  Epub Mar 07, 2022. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2021.92.3800.

There is not a taxonomic list of species belonging to the 3 superorders of Phthiraptera (Anoplura, Amblycera, and Ischnocera) that occur in Mexico. The most important studies have focused on sucking -in mammals- or chewing lice -in birds and mammals. Here, we provide an updated list of lice from Mexico, including their distribution in the Mexican states, specificity, and records of human pediculosis. After carrying out a bibliographic search, we recorded 443 species and subspecies of lice grouped in 16 families and 123 genera. We, therefore, add to the previous lists, 45 records of lice, as well as 63 host species. Veracruz is the state with the highest species richness (79), followed by Coahuila (73), Baja California (59), and San Luis Potosí (59). The head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer, 1778), the body louse (P. humanus humanus Linnaeus, 1758), and the pubic louse (Pthirus pubis Linnaeus, 1758) were recorded in 18, 31, and 7 Mexican states, respectively. Most of the lice species recorded in Mexico appear to be highly specialized (monoxenous = 69.1%). In conclusion, more taxonomic and ecological studies of Phthiraptera are required since they can help to implement conservation programs both for them and for their hosts.

Keywords : Taxonomic list; Mexico; Ectoparasites; Sucking lice; Chewing lice; Specificity.