Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Found on the human body and in clothing or bedding used by infested persons; they typically reside in the seams of clothing and move to the skin to feed.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

They are highly social and lay eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing. Unlike head lice, they spend most of their time in fabric, only visiting the host's skin to feed. They spread through direct physical contact or shared clothing/bedding.

Risks & Benefits

Significant health risks; they cause intense itching and can transmit serious bacterial diseases such as louse-borne typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They provide no ecosystem benefits to humans.

Identified on: 4/2/2026