Body louse
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea (Phthiraptera), Family: Pediculidae
Size: 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Typically found on the bodies of humans or in the seams of clothing and bedding
Diet & Feeding
Exclusively human blood, which they feed on several times a day
Behavior Patterns
They live in clothing and only move to the skin to feed. They are spread through direct person-to-person contact or contact with infested items.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Can cause intense itching and skin rashes (pediculosis). They are vectors for serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever.
Identified on: 6/25/2026