Body Louse (or Head Louse) Nit

Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus

Order & Family: Order: Psocodea; Family: Pediculidae

Size: Nits are approximately 0.8 mm long; adults reach 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm.

Body Louse (or Head Louse) Nit

Natural Habitat

Found exclusively on humans; nits are attached to hair shafts (head lice) or clothing fibers (body lice).

Diet & Feeding

Strictly hematophagous; they feed on human blood multiple times a day.

Behavior Patterns

Nits are cemented to surfaces by the female. They cannot jump or fly and are transmitted through direct contact or sharing of personal items like brushes or clothing.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching (pediculosis) and skin irritation. Body lice, specifically, can transmit diseases like epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. There are no ecological benefits.

Identified on: 2/3/2026