What is "nicothoe astaci"

Lobster \Lob"ster\, n. [AS. loppestre, lopystre prob., corrupted fr. L. locusta a marine shellfish, a kind of lobster, a locust. Cf. Locust.] (Zo["o]l.)

1. Any large macrurous crustacean used as food, esp. those of the genus Homarus; as the American lobster ( Homarus Americanus), and the European lobster ( Homarus vulgaris). The Norwegian lobster ( Nephrops Norvegicus) is similar in form. All these have a pair of large unequal claws. The spiny lobsters of more southern waters, belonging to Palinurus, Panulirus, and allied genera, have no large claws. The fresh-water crayfishes are sometimes called lobsters.

2. As a term of opprobrium or contempt: A gullible, awkward, bungling, or undesirable person. [Slang]

   Lobster caterpillar (Zo["o]l.), the caterpillar of a European bombycid moth ( Stauropus fagi); -- so called from its form.

   Lobster louse (Zo["o]l.), a copepod crustacean ( Nicotho["e] astaci) parasitic on the gills of the European lobster.

Nicothoë astaci or the 'lobster louse' is an ectoparasitic copepod that parasitises the gills of the European lobster species Homarus gammarus. The lobster louse was first reported in 1826 by Audoin & Milne-Edwards. N. astaci has been found on lobsters inhabiting locations including Scotland, Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel and as far south as France and Portugal. The louse possesses a narrow suctorial mouthpart to feed on host haemolymph. Internally, In its adult form, Nicothoe is barely mobile and most likely remains in the same position for most of its life. The parasite occurs in groups, particularly near the base of the gills, and study has gone into its effects on the lobsters, which are considerably important, commercially. Not much is known about its life cycle, since there are significant gaps in knowledge of certain stages of its growth.