Louse (likely Head or Body Louse)
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera), Family: Pediculidae
Size: 2.1 mm to 3.6 mm (roughly the size of a sesame seed)
Natural Habitat
Found exclusively on the human body, specifically the scalp (head lice) or within clothing and bedding (body lice).
Diet & Feeding
Strictly hematophagous; they feed on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless and crawl between hosts through direct contact. They lay eggs (nits) which are glued to hair shafts or clothing fibers. They cannot fly or jump.
Risks & Benefits
Risk: Causes intense itching and scalp irritation. Body lice can transmit serious bacterial diseases like epidemic typhus and trench fever. Benefit: None to humans; they are obligate parasites.
Identified on: 1/6/2026