Louse

Scientific Name: 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).

Louse

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.

Identified on: 12/27/2025