Body Louse
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera); Family: Pediculidae
Size: 2.3 to 3.6 millimeters (roughly the size of a sesame seed)
Natural Habitat
Typically found on clothing and bedding of infested individuals, migrating to the skin to feed.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on human blood multiple times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They live in the seams of clothing and lay eggs (nits) on clothing fibers. They are transmitted through direct contact or sharing of infested clothing and linens.
Risks & Benefits
They cause intense itching and rashes. Unlike head lice, they are significant vectors for several serious diseases, including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever.
Identified on: 1/1/2026