Community identification
Body louse
Pediculus humanus humanus
- Order & Family
- Order Phthiraptera, Family Pediculidae
- Size
- 2.3 to 3.6 millimeters in length.
Natural Habitat
Found exclusively in clothing seams and fibers, moving to human skin only to feed.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophage, feeding exclusively on human blood several times daily.
Behavior Patterns
Spends most of its life cycle clinging to fabric fibers rather than human hair, laying eggs in clothing seams.
Risks & Benefits
Acts as a vector for dangerous pathogens including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever.