Community identification
Human Head Louse
Pediculus humanus capitis
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea; Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2.1 mm to 3.3 mm (roughly the size of a sesame seed)
Natural Habitat
Found exclusively on the human scalp and hair, most commonly behind the ears and at the nape of the neck.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed on human blood several times a day to survive.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless, crawling insects that cannot jump or fly. They attach their eggs (nits) to hair shafts with a waterproof glue-like substance and depend entirely on the host's body heat for survival.
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit diseases. However, they cause intense itching, which can lead to secondary skin infections from scratching. They are considered a social nuisance but provide no ecosystem benefits.