Body Louse Nymph
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea; Family: Pediculidae
Size: 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm for nymphs; up to 2.5–3.5 mm for adults
Natural Habitat
Found on the body and in the clothing or bedding of infested humans.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly hematophagous; they feed on human blood multiple times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They live in the seams of clothing and move onto the skin to feed. They spread through direct contact or sharing of infested garments. They cannot jump or fly.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, skin rashes, and the potential transmission of serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. There are no known benefits.
Identified on: 6/3/2026