Body louse nit (egg)
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera), Family: Pediculidae
Size: Approximately 0.5 to 1.0 mm for eggs (nits)
Natural Habitat
Found on human clothing, particularly in seams, or bedding; they only move to the skin to feed.
Diet & Feeding
The adult and nymphal stages feed exclusively on human blood; the egg stage does not eat.
Behavior Patterns
Eggs are cemented to the fibers of clothing or fabric. They hatch in about 1-2 weeks. Adult body lice move to the host's body to feed multiple times a day.
Risks & Benefits
High risk; they are vectors for serious diseases including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They cause intense itching and skin irritation.
Identified on: 1/10/2026