Body louse or Head louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found on the human body or in clothing (body louse) or on the human scalp and hair (head louse).

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

They are wingless and crawl. They cannot jump or fly. They attach their eggs (nits) to hair shafts or clothing fibers. They require warmth from a human host to survive.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching, allergic reactions to bites, and secondary skin infections from scratching. Body lice can transmit serious diseases like typhus, while head lice are generally not vectors for disease but are highly contagious pests.

Identified on: 3/6/2026