Body louse

Natural Habitat

Exclusively found on humans; they live and lay eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing and move to the skin to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Blood-sucking parasite; feeds exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

Body lice attach themselves to clothing fibers and only move to the human body for feeding; they are typically spread through direct physical contact or sharing infested clothing/bedding.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Significant health threat as they are vectors for diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They also cause intense itching and skin rashes (pediculosis). There are no known benefits.

Identified on: 1/10/2026