Pubic Louse (and eggs/nits)

Found exclusively on human hosts, primarily in the pubic hair or other coarse body hair like chest hair, beard, or eyebrows.

Obligate hematophagous: they feed exclusively on human blood throughout all life stages.

They move slowly and grip hair shafts with specialized crab-like claws. They cannot jump or fly. They lay eggs (nits) on the hair shaft near the skin, which hatch in about 6-10 days.

Risks: Causes intense itching (pruritus) due to an allergic reaction to their saliva; can cause blue-gray skin spots (maculae caeruleae). They can be spread through close physical contact. There are no ecological benefits as they are parasitic.