Community identification
Head louse
Pediculus humanus capitis
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea, Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2.1 to 3.3 millimeters
Natural Habitat
Human scalp, hair shafts, and clothing closely associated with the head
Diet & Feeding
Human blood, feeding multiple times a day
Behavior Patterns
Flightless, wingless insects that crawl rapidly through hair. Females lay eggs (nits) cemented firmly to hair shafts near the scalp, which hatch in about 7 to 10 days.
Risks & Benefits
Causes intense itching, scalp irritation, and potential secondary bacterial infections from scratching. They are obligate human parasites and do not provide ecological benefits to humans.