Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found on human skin and in the seams of clothing, particularly undergarments and items that are layered.

Diet & Feeding

Exclusively human blood; they must feed several times a day to survive.

Behavior Patterns

They live in clothing and only move onto the skin to feed. They lay their eggs (nits) in the seams of clothes. They are generally associated with crowded living conditions and infrequent laundering of clothes.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Can cause intense itching and skin irritation (pediculosis). They are significant vectors for diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Benefits: None.

Identified on: 2/13/2026