Body louse

Natural Habitat

Found on the human body and in clothing/bedding of infested individuals, specifically in the seams and folds of fabric.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on human blood as their sole source of nutrition.

Behavior Patterns

Unlike head lice, body lice live and lay eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing and only crawl onto the skin to feed. They are spread through direct physical contact or by sharing infested clothing, towels, or bedding.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: They cause intense itching (pediculosis) and rashes. Uniquely among lice, they are vectors for serious diseases including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. There are no ecological benefits to humans.

Identified on: 12/28/2025