Common Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Found on the body and in the clothing of humans, particularly in folds and seams of fabric.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous; they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They spend most of their time on clothing, only moving to the skin to feed. They are wingless and spread through direct physical contact or shared garments.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: They cause intense itching and can be vectors for serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. There are no known ecological benefits for humans.

Identified on: 12/28/2025