Community identification
Human Head Louse
Pediculus humanus capitis
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea; Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2.1 to 3.3 mm in length (about the size of a sesame seed).
Natural Habitat
Exclusively on the human scalp, typically found near the base of hair shafts close to the scalp surface.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly hematophagous; they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless and cannot jump or fly; they move by crawling. They attach their eggs (nits) to hair shafts with a waterproof glue-like substance. They cannot survive for more than 24 to 48 hours away from a human host.
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit diseases. The primary risk is intense itching (pruritus) caused by an allergic reaction to their saliva, which can lead to secondary skin infections from scratching. They provide no known ecological benefit to humans.