Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found on human bodies and in clothing, particularly in the seams of garments worn close to the skin.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

They live in clothing and only move onto the skin to feed. They lay eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing or occasionally on body hair. They are most common in crowded living conditions where hygiene is poor.

Risks & Benefits

They cause intense itching and skin rashes (pediculosis). They are significant vectors for serious diseases including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They provide no known benefit to the ecosystem.

Identified on: 12/27/2025