Body louse (egg/nit)

Natural Habitat

Typically found on clothing and bedding of humans, specifically near the seams; they only move to the skin to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly hematophagous; they feed on human blood multiple times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They live and lay eggs in the seams of clothing. They are highly dependent on human body heat and must stay close to a host to survive. They spread through direct contact with infested clothing or bedding.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Can cause intense itching and skin rashes (pediculosis). They are significant vectors for serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Benefits: None.

Identified on: 3/17/2026