Human Lice (Head, Body, or Pubic Lice)
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus or Pthirus pubis
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea, Family: Pediculidae or Pthiridae
Size: 1 mm to 3 mm in length (roughly the size of a sesame seed).
Natural Habitat
Found exclusively on the human body, specifically hair follicles on the scalp, body hair, or seams of clothing near the skin.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood-feeders; they consume human blood multiple times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless, crawling insects that move between hosts via direct contact or shared personal items. They lay eggs (nits) that glue firmly to hair shafts. They cannot jump or fly.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching (pruritus) as an allergic reaction to their saliva, secondary skin infections from scratching, and in the case of body lice, the potential transmission of diseases like typhus. There are no ecological benefits.
Identified on: 1/14/2026