Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found on human clothing, moving to the skin only to feed; commonly associated with conditions of crowding and lack of hygiene.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood feeders, consuming human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They lay their eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing and spend most of their time attached to fabric. They die within a few days if separated from a human host.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching, allergic reactions, and the transmission of serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. There are no known benefits to humans or ecosystems.

Identified on: 1/11/2026