Body Louse (plural: Body Lice)

Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus

Order & Family: Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera), Family: Pediculidae

Size: 2.3 to 3.6 millimeters (about the size of a sesame seed).

Body Louse (plural: Body Lice)

Natural Habitat

Found on the human body, specifically living and laying eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing and bedding.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

Unlike head lice, body lice live in clothing and only move to the skin to feed. They are spread through direct physical contact or by sharing infested clothing, towels, or bedding. They require warmth and frequent blood meals to survive.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: They cause intense itching and rashes (pediculosis). They are significant vectors for serious diseases including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Benefits: None to the ecosystem or host.

Identified on: 3/17/2026