Body Louse (or possibly Head Louse)

Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus (or Pediculus humanus capitis)

Order & Family: Order: Phthiraptera, Family: Pediculidae

Size: 2.0 to 3.5 mm (roughly the size of a sesame seed)

Body Louse (or possibly Head Louse)

Natural Habitat

Body lice live in clothing and bedding, moving to the skin only to feed. Head lice live exclusively on human scalp hair.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous; feeds exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They are wingless parasites that move by crawling. Body lice lay their eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing, whereas head lice glue their nits to hair shafts close to the scalp. They are spread through close person-to-person contact or shared bedding/clothing.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching, skin irritation, and potential secondary bacterial infection from scratching. Body lice specifically are vectors for diseases such as typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever (head lice are not known to transmit disease). No ecological benefits as they are obligate parasites.

Identified on: 2/18/2026