Community identification
Head louse
Pediculus humanus capitis
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea, Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2 to 3 millimeters long (about the size of a sesame seed)
Natural Habitat
Human scalp and hair, specifically close to the scalp for warmth and access to blood vessels.
Diet & Feeding
Exclusively human blood, feeding several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
Flightless and wingless insects that crawl rapidly through hair. Females lay tiny eggs called nits firmly cemented to hair shafts near the scalp, which hatch in about 7 to 10 days.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense scalp itching, skin irritation from scratching leading to potential secondary bacterial infections, and social stigma. They provide no benefit to humans and are considered parasitic pests.