Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found on human clothing and bedding, moving to the skin only to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood-feeders; they consume human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They lay their eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing rather than on hair. They are most common in crowded conditions where hygiene is poor and clothing is not frequently changed.

Risks & Benefits

Significant risk to humans; they can transmit serious bacterial diseases such as louse-borne typhus, trench fever, and epidemic relapsing fever.

Identified on: 3/12/2026