Community identification
Body louse
Pediculus humanus humanus
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera), Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2.3 mm to 3.6 mm
Natural Habitat
Found on the human host's body and within the seams of clothing and bedding
Diet & Feeding
Exclusively human blood; they feed several times a day
Behavior Patterns
They live in clothing and only move to the skin to feed. Unlike head lice, they lay their eggs (nits) in the seams of clothes rather than on hair.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, allergic reactions, and skin rashes. Importantly, they are vectors for serious diseases like epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever.