Louse (Head, Body, or Pubic)

Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus / Pthirus pubis

Order & Family: Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera), Family: Pediculidae or Pthiridae

Size: 1mm to 3mm

Louse (Head, Body, or Pubic)

Natural Habitat

External surfaces of the human body, specifically hair shafts, clothing fibers, or skin seams.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate ectoparasite; feeds exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

Wingless and incapable of jumping; they move by crawling from host to host or via shared items. They glue their eggs (nits) to hair shafts or clothing.

Risks & Benefits

Cause intense itching and possible secondary skin infections from scratching. Body lice can transmit serious diseases like typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever.

Identified on: 12/26/2025