Body Louse / Head Louse

Natural Habitat

External surfaces of the human body, specifically hair, scalp, or clothing seams.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagy (feeds exclusively on human blood) several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They are wingless and cannot jump; they move by crawling. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with three nymphal stages. Females attach eggs (nits) to hair shafts or clothing fibers.

Risks & Benefits

Causes intense itching and skin irritation (pediculosis). Body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus) are significant vectors for diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They offer no ecological benefit to humans.

Identified on: 1/4/2026