
Community identification
Body louse
Pediculus humanus humanus
- Order & Family
- Phthiraptera, Pediculidae
- Size
- 2.3 to 3.6 mm in length
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.