Community identification
Head Louse (plural: Head Lice)
Pediculus humanus capitis
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea, Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- Adults are approximately 2–3 mm long (about the size of a sesame seed); eggs (nits) are roughly 0.8 mm.
Natural Habitat
Exclusively on the human scalp and hair, where they stay close to the skin for warmth and food.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless and cannot jump or fly; they move by crawling. Eggs (nits) are cemented to the hair shaft. They spread primarily through direct head-to-head contact.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching (pruritus), scalp irritation, and potential secondary bacterial infections from scratching. They do not spread disease. No known ecological benefits to humans.