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

Found exclusively on human clothing, moving to skin only to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds exclusively on human blood taken through the skin.

Behavior Patterns

Spends most time clinging to clothing fibers, laying eggs in seams rather than directly on human hair.

Risks & Benefits

Transmits serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever.