Body Louse / Head Louse

Natural Habitat

Exclusively on the human body; head lice inhabit the hair and scalp, while body lice live in clothing and move to the skin to feed.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

They are wingless and cannot jump; they move through crawling. They attach their eggs (nits) to hair shafts or clothing fibers. They require proximity to a human host for warmth and food to survive.

Risks & Benefits

They cause intense itching and skin irritation. While head lice do not transmit disease, body lice are known vectors for typhus, trench fever, and epidemic relapsing fever. They have no ecological benefits to humans.

Identified on: 1/15/2026