Community identification
Head louse (Nymph/Adult)
Pediculus humanus capitis
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea; Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2mm to 3mm in length (roughly the size of a sesame seed).
Natural Habitat
Exclusively on the human scalp and hair, where they stay close to the skin for warmth and food.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous parasites; they feed on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless and cannot jump or fly; they move by crawling from hair to hair. Females lay eggs (nits) and cement them to the hair shaft near the scalp. They cannot survive for more than 24-48 hours off a human host.
Risks & Benefits
They do not spread disease but cause intense itching (pruritus) and scalp irritation due to an allergic reaction to their saliva. Secondary bacterial infections can occur from scratching.