Body Louse (Nits/Eggs on hair)

Natural Habitat

Found on human clothing, bedding, and occasionally hair strands; they live primarily in the seams of clothing and move to the skin to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on human blood multiple times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They undergo simple metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult). Unlike head lice, they lay eggs (nits) on clothing fibers or body hair. They are typically associated with crowded living conditions and poor hygiene.

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 (pediculosis) and skin irritation.

Identified on: 2/22/2026