
Community identification
Body louse
Pediculus humanus humanus
- Order & Family
- Order Phthiraptera, Family Pediculidae
- Size
- Adults range from 2.3 to 3.6 millimeters in length.
Natural Habitat
Found exclusively in clothing seams and fibers, moving to the skin only to feed.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds exclusively on human blood through multiple daily punctures.
Behavior Patterns
Spends its life cycle hiding in fabric folds, attaching eggs directly to clothing threads.
Risks & Benefits
Acts as a primary vector for transmitting epidemic typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever.