Body louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found on human hosts, specifically within clothing or bedding, and moving to the skin to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood feeders, consuming human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They live in clothing seams and only crawl onto the skin to feed. They are spread through close physical contact or shared clothing and bedding. Their life cycle includes egg (nit), nymph, and adult stages.

Risks & Benefits

They pose significant health risks as vectors for several diseases, including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They cause intense itching and skin irritation. No ecological benefits.

Identified on: 1/12/2026