Community identification
Human Head Louse
Pediculus humanus capitis
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea (Anoplura); Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2-3 mm long (roughly the size of a sesame seed).
Natural Habitat
Exclusively on the human scalp, living near the hair base for warmth and food access.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagy; they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless and cannot jump or fly; they move by crawling. They cement their eggs (nits) to hair shafts and have a life cycle consisting of egg, nymph, and adult stages.
Risks & Benefits
Risk: Causes pediculosis (infestation), leading to intense itching, scalp irritation, and potential secondary bacterial infections from scratching. Benefit: None to humans; they are strictly parasitic pests.