Community identification
Louse (likely Head Louse egg)
Pediculus humanus capitis
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea, Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- Nits (eggs) are approximately 0.8 mm long; adults are 2 to 3 mm.
Natural Habitat
Typically found on the human scalp, specifically attached to hair shafts near the skin.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly hematophagous; they feed on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless and cannot jump or fly, spreading through direct head-to-head contact. Eggs (nits) are cemented to the hair shaft with a specialized glue-like substance.
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit disease but cause intense itching (pediculosis) and secondary skin infections from scratching. They provide no ecosystem benefits to humans; they are obligate parasites.