Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Exclusively found on humans, typically living in the seams of clothing and moving to the skin to feed

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on human blood multiple times a day

Behavior Patterns

They are highly dependent on human body warmth and proximity to clothing seams where they lay eggs (nits); they can survive away from a host for only a few days

Risks & Benefits

Risk: Known vectors for serious diseases including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Benefit: No known benefits to humans or ecosystems

Identified on: 5/21/2026