Community identification
Human Lice
Pediculus humanus
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea, Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2 mm to 3.5 mm
Natural Habitat
Human bodies and hair, commonly on heads or clothing
Diet & Feeding
Strictly blood from human hosts
Behavior Patterns
Cling to hair or fibers with specialized claws; they cannot jump or fly and are transmitted through direct contact or shared items
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, allergic reactions, and in the case of body lice, transmission of diseases like typhus; they offer no known ecosystem benefits