Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Found on the human body and in clothing or bedding used by infested persons; specifically lives in the seams of clothing and travels to the skin to feed.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

Unlike head lice, body lice live and lay their eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing. They move to the skin only to feed and remain on the fabric otherwise. They are spread through direct physical contact or contact with infested clothing and linens.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include severe itching (pruritus) and skin rashes. They are significant medical vectors capable of transmitting serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. There are no known benefits to the ecosystem.

Identified on: 2/17/2026