Body Louse

Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus

Order & Family: Order: Psocodea / Family: Pediculidae

Size: 2.3 to 3.6 millimeters (roughly the size of a sesame seed)

Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Exclusively found on humans; they live and lay eggs in the seams of clothing and move to the skin to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate parasites that feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They are spread through direct physical contact or by sharing infested clothing/bedding. Unlike head lice, they primarily inhabit clothing and only touch the skin to feed.

Risks & Benefits

High risk of causing intense itching and skin rashes (pediculosis). They are significant vectors for dangerous diseases like epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever.

Identified on: 1/10/2026