
Community identification
Body louse
Pediculus humanus humanus
- Order & Family
- Order Phthiraptera, Family Pediculidae
- Size
- 2.3 to 3.6 millimeters long.
Natural Habitat
Human clothing seams, bedding, and direct contact with the human body.
Diet & Feeding
Exclusive hematophage feeding solely on human blood.
Behavior Patterns
Spends most of its lifecycle clinging to fibers of clothing, moving onto the skin only to feed several times a day.
Risks & Benefits
Transmits serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever. Provides no known ecological or human benefits.