Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found on clothing and bedding of infested individuals, moving to the skin only to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly hematophagous; they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They hide in the seams of clothing and lay their eggs (nits) there. They are highly dependent on human warmth and blood meals for survival and reproduction.

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. There are no known benefits to humans or ecosystems.

Identified on: 5/18/2026