Body Louse

Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus

Order & Family: Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera); Family: Pediculidae

Size: 2.3 to 3.6 mm in length

Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found in the seams of clothing and bedding of human hosts, only moving to the skin to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous; they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They lay their eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing. They are highly dependent on human warmth and will die if separated from a host for more than a few days.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: They are significant vectors of human diseases, including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Benefits: None.

Identified on: 1/4/2026