Body louse (or Head louse egg/nymph)

Natural Habitat

In close proximity to the human body, specifically living on or within the seams of clothing and bedding (body louse) or on the human scalp (head louse).

Diet & Feeding

Strictly hematophagous; they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They are wingless and cannot jump or fly, moving only by crawling. Eggs are glued to clothing fibers or hair shafts and hatch in approximately 1-2 weeks. They require frequent blood meals and human body warmth to survive.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching and skin irritation (pediculosis). Body lice are medically significant as vectors for many diseases, including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. There are no ecological benefits to humans.

Identified on: 12/30/2025