The head has compound eyes, a mandible mouthpart, and shortened antennae. Their modified mouthpart can slice flesh like tiny scalpels. The louse possesses a narrow suctorial mouthpart to feed on host haemolymph. Some species in the subfamily Pangoniinae have an exceptionally long proboscis (tubular mouthpart). These mouthpart modifications form an organ to feed bacteria. Mouthpart morphology in the genus ranges from sponging mouthparts to mouths with rasping teeth.