Human Louse (Head Louse or Body Louse)

Head lice inhabit the human scalp and hair; body lice live in the seams of clothing and bedding, moving to the skin only to feed.

Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on human blood several times a day)

They are wingless parasitic insects that crawl (cannot jump or fly). They use specialized claw-like legs to tightly grasp hair shafts or fabric fibers. Females attach eggs (nits) to hair or clothing seams.

Risks include Pediculosis (infestation causing intense itching), skin irritation, and secondary bacterial infection from scratching. While head lice are not known to spread disease, body lice can transmit pathogens causing typhus and trench fever.