Bug Identifier
Body louse
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.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.