Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found living in clothing and bedding of infected humans, moving to skin to feed. They thrive in crowded, unsanitary conditions where clothing is rarely washed or changed.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly hematophagous (blood-feeding); feeds exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

Unlike head lice, body lice lay their nits (eggs) on the seams of clothing rather than hair shafts. They cling to fabric fibers and only move to the skin to feed. They crawl; they cannot jump or fly.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Major vector for diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Can cause intense itching (pruritus) and skin discoloration known as 'vagabond's disease'. Benefits: None known.

Identified on: 2/8/2026