Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Typically lives in the seams of clothing and bedding of humans, moving to the skin only to feed.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

They are highly dependent on human body heat and clothing for survival. They lay their eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing rather than on hair like the related head louse.

Risks & Benefits

Significant health risks; they can transmit serious bacterial diseases such as louse-borne typhus, trench fever, and epidemic relapsing fever. They have no known benefits to the ecosystem.

Identified on: 12/28/2025