As there are different species of lice so do they vary in colour. Not all lice live on humans (and, most unfortunately, lice treatment and lice products for elephants are not yet available – and they do get lice (the species Rhyncophthirina) – nor has anyone come up with a lice comb for birds (which carry the species Amblycera).
Some are gray while some while others are pale. The lice that feed on the blood of their host become darker once they suck enough blood from their host’s body. The colour of lice also changes when they die. For example the eggs turn yellow when they are dead.
Mode of feeding
Though lice are parasites on the humans and other animals including birds but their mode of nutrition differs from each other. Some feed on the skin of their host or any other debris that are found on their host skin. These types of lice are known as the biting lice. There are found more in birds. Another group of lice do not bite, rather they live on the blood of their host. These types of lice are known as the sucking lice. Typical examples of the sucking lice are the lice that are found on the humans. The head lice for example suck the blood of their host.
Mode of reproduction
Just like every other living being, lice reproduce in order to perpetuate themselves on the body of their host. However, they have their own mode of reproduction. In the first instance, there are female lice as well as men lice. The female lice are commoner than the male counterpart. Lice belong to the group of living being called oviparous. Oviparous living beings are those living thing that reproduce by laying eggs. The eggs are allowed to incubate for some period before the young ones are hatched.
