
Community identification
Body louse
Pediculus humanus humanus
- Order & Family
- Phthiraptera, Pediculidae
- Size
- 2.3 to 3.6 millimeters in length.
Natural Habitat
Found primarily on clothing and seams, moving to human skin only to feed.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds exclusively on human blood multiple times a day.
Behavior Patterns
Spends its life cycle clinging to fabric fibers and lays eggs called nits on clothing seams.
Risks & Benefits
Acts as a vector for serious human pathogens including typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever; offers no ecological benefits.