Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found on human clothing and bedding, only moving to the skin to feed.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

They lay their eggs on clothing fibers, especially along seams. They are highly dependent on human body warmth and cannot survive long if separated from their host's clothing.

Risks & Benefits

Significant health risk; they are vectors for serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They do not provide any ecological benefits.

Identified on: 2/13/2026