Body louse nit (egg)
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera), Family: Pediculidae
Size: Nits (eggs) are approximately 0.8 mm long; adults are 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm.
Natural Habitat
Found on human clothing, particularly in seams, where they live and lay eggs (nits). They only move to the skin to feed.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood-feeders; they consume human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They lay their eggs on clothing fibers rather than human hair. They are usually associated with crowded living conditions and poor hygiene where clothing is not frequently changed or laundered.
Risks & Benefits
Significant health risk; they are vectors for serious diseases including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They cause intense itching and skin irritation (pediculosis).
Identified on: 1/7/2026