Body Louse
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera), Family: Pediculidae
Size: 2.3 mm to 3.6 mm (approximately the size of a sesame seed)
Natural Habitat
Exclusively found on humans. Unlike head lice, body lice live and lay eggs in the seams of clothing and bedding, only moving to the skin to feed.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on human blood) several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless parasites that crawl and cannot jump or fly. They complete their life cycle on clothing and human hosts; eggs (nits) are glued to fabric fibers rather than hair. They are typically associated with crowded living conditions and poor hygiene.
Risks & Benefits
No environmental benefits. Significant health risks to humans as they can transmit serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Feeding causes intense itching and skin rashes.
Identified on: 12/31/2025