
Community identification
Body louse
Pediculus humanus humanus
- Order & Family
- Order Phthiraptera, Family Pediculidae
- Size
- 2.3 to 3.6 millimeters in length.
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.