Bug Identifier
Body louse
Community identification

Body louse

Pediculus humanus humanus

Order & Family
Order Phthiraptera, Family Pediculidae
Size
2.3 to 3.6 millimeters in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found primarily in clothing seams and folds, moving to human skin only to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds exclusively on human blood through frequent biting.

Behavior Patterns

Spends most of its life clinging to clothing fibers, laying eggs on fabric rather than directly on skin.

Risks & Benefits

Acts as a vector for serious human pathogens including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever.