Bug Identifier
Body louse
Community identification

Body louse

Pediculus humanus humanus

Order & Family
Order Phthiraptera, Family Pediculidae
Size
2.3 to 3.6 millimeters long.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.