Community identification
Louse
Pediculus humanus capitis (Head louse) or Phthirus pubis (Pubic louse)
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea, Family: Pediculidae / Pthiridae
- Size
- 2 to 3 mm in length (roughly the size of a sesame seed).
Natural Habitat
Inhabits the hair and skin of human hosts; specifically the scalp or pubic region depending on the species.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate ectoparasites that feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They move by crawling as they cannot jump or fly; they attach their eggs (nits) to hair shafts near the skin surface to utilize body heat for incubation.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, allergic reactions to saliva, and secondary skin infections from scratching; they are primarily a nuisance and are not known to spread disease in the case of head lice.