Head Louse

Human scalp, primarily on the hair and skin of the head

Hematophagous; feeds exclusively on human blood several times a day

Obligate ectoparasites that cannot jump or fly; they crawl and attach eggs (nits) to hair shafts near the scalp. They can only survive 1-2 days away from a human host.

Can cause intense itching (pediculosis), scalp sores, and irritability. They do not transmit diseases but are highly contagious through direct head-to-head contact.