Bug Identifier
Body louse
Community identification

Body louse

Pediculus humanus humanus

Order & Family
Phthiraptera, Pediculidae
Size
2.3 to 3.6 millimeters in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.