Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found in the seams and folds of clothing and bedding of individuals who do not wash or change clothes frequently.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood-feeders; they consume human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They live and lay eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing and only move onto the skin to feed. They cannot jump or fly, spreading through direct physical contact or sharing infested garments.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching and skin rashes (pediculosis). They are significant public health concerns because they can transmit serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. There are no ecological benefits.

Identified on: 1/1/2026