Pubic Louse (Crab Louse)

Natural Habitat

Exclusively parasitic on humans; typically found in the coarse hair of the pubic region, but occasionally in armpits, facial hair (beards, mustaches, eyelashes), and chest hair.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on human blood).

Behavior Patterns

They are sedentary parasites that cling tightly to hair shafts using specialized crab-like claws. They are less mobile than head lice and spend most of their life attached to a few hairs, feeding periodically.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Causes intense itching (pruritus) and skin irritation (pediculosis pubis). Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections. They do not typically transmit diseases but are nuisance parasites transmitted through close physical contact.

Identified on: 3/5/2026