Human Head Louse (Nymph/Adult)

Exclusively on the human scalp and hair

Obligate hematophages; feeds on human blood multiple times a day

Crawls (cannot hop or fly); completes life cycle from egg (nit) to nymph to adult on a host; eggs are glued to hair shafts near the scalp

Causes intense itching and potential secondary skin infections from scratching; not known to transmit systemic bacterial diseases; source of significant social distress