Bug Identifier
Body louse
Community identification

Body louse

Pediculus humanus humanus

Order & Family
Phthiraptera, Pediculidae
Size
2.3 to 3.6 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found exclusively on human clothing and bedding, moving to the skin only to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous ectoparasite feeding exclusively on human blood.

Behavior Patterns

Spends its life cycle clinging to clothing fibers where females lay eggs, attaching them securely to fabric.

Risks & Benefits

Transmits serious human pathogens including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever.