Body louse

Natural Habitat

Found on humans, specifically in clothing, bedding, and on the body where humans live in crowded or unsanitary conditions.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly hematophagous; they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They live in the seams of clothing and move to the skin to feed. They spread through direct physical contact or by sharing infested clothing and linens. Their life cycle includes eggs (nits), nymphs, and adults.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: They cause intense itching (pediculosis) and can transmit serious bacterial diseases such as louse-borne epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Benefits: None to humans or the ecosystem.

Identified on: 1/11/2026