
Community identification
Pubic Louse (Crab Louse)
Pthirus pubis
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea; Family: Pthiridae
- Size
- 1.1 to 1.8 millimeters (approximately the size of a pinhead)
Natural Habitat
The coarse hair of the human pubic and anal regions; occasionally found in eyelashes, eyebrows, beards, or armpits.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophage; it feeds exclusively on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are sedentary and spend their entire life cycle on the host, attaching eggs (nits) to hair shafts. They cannot jump or fly and move slowly.
Risks & Benefits
Risk: Causes intense itching (pruritus) due to hypersensitivity to saliva; can cause secondary skin infections from scratching. No documented ecosystem benefit as they are specialized human parasites.