Human Head Louse

Human scalp and hair, most commonly found near the nape of the neck and around the ears.

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

They are wingless and cannot jump or fly; they move by crawling from hair to hair. They lay eggs called nits which are glued to hair shafts close to the scalp.

While they cause intense itching and social distress, they are not known to transmit diseases. Excessive scratching can lead to secondary bacterial skin infections.