Community identification
Louse
Pediculus humanus capitis (Head louse) or Phthirus pubis (Pubic louse)
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera), Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2mm - 3mm (roughly the size of a sesame seed).
Natural Habitat
Found exclusively on humans, specifically attached to hair shafts or on the scalp/body in close proximity to the skin.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate parasites that feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless and cannot jump or fly; they move by crawling. They lay eggs (nits) firmly glued to the base of hair shafts. They survive only a short time (1–2 days) if they fall off a human host.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Causes intense itching (pruritus) due to an allergic reaction to their saliva. Secondary bacterial skin infections can occur from scratching. Head lice are not known to spread disease, but they are a significant nuisance. Benefit: None to humans or the ecosystem.