Pubic Louse (Crab Louse)

Natural Habitat

Typically found in the coarse hair of humans, most commonly the pubic region, but occasionally found in armpits, eyelashes, and facial hair.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on human blood).

Behavior Patterns

They grasp hair shafts with specialized claws that resemble crab claws. They are relatively immobile compared to other lice and spend most of their life attached to hairs near the skin surface feeding on blood.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Causes intense itching (pruritus) and skin irritation due to an allergic reaction to their saliva. Can cause bluish-grey spots on the skin (maculae ceruleae). Benefits: None known; they are parasitic pests.

Identified on: 2/25/2026