Body Louse
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea / Family: Pediculidae
Size: 2.3 to 3.6 mm (approximately the size of a sesame seed)
Natural Habitat
Typically found on clothing and bedding used by infested humans, moving to the skin only to feed.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood-feeders; they consume human blood multiple times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They live in the seams of clothing and lay eggs (nits) on fabric fibers. They spread through direct physical contact or by sharing infested garments and linens.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, skin rashes, and the potential transmission of serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever.
Identified on: 2/13/2026