Louse (likely Head Louse)

Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus capitis

Order & Family: Order: Psocodea; Family: Pediculidae

Size: 2-3 mm (approximately the size of a sesame seed)

Louse (likely Head Louse)

Natural Habitat

Human scalp and hair; they rely on the warmth and blood supply of the host.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly hematophagous (blood-feeding); they feed on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They are wingless and cannot jump or fly, moving only by crawling. They attach their eggs (nits) to hair shafts near the scalp with a waterproof glue-like substance. The life cycle from egg to adult takes about 3 weeks.

Risks & Benefits

They cause intense itching (pruritus due to an allergic reaction to saliva) and can lead to secondary skin infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases, but they are a significant social and public health nuisance.

Identified on: 3/30/2026