Body Louse (and associated eggs/nits)
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera), Family: Pediculidae
Size: 2.5 mm to 3.6 mm for adults; the yellowish-white nits (eggs) are much smaller, about 0.8 mm.
Natural Habitat
Exclusively found on the human body, specifically living in and laying eggs on clothing and bedding that come into regular contact with the skin.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
Unlike head lice, body lice spend most of their time in the seams of clothing and only move to the skin to feed. They are spread through direct person-to-person contact or by sharing infested clothing, towels, or bedding.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching (pruritus) and allergic reactions. More significantly, body lice are vectors for serious bacterial diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They offer no benefits to the ecosystem.
Identified on: 1/4/2026