Body louse nit
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea; Family: Pediculidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm (nits)
Natural Habitat
Found on the inner surfaces of human clothing that touch the skin
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood feeders, consuming human blood several times a day
Behavior Patterns
Nits are glued to fibers of clothing; adults remain on clothing except to feed on the host's body
Risks & Benefits
High risk: vectors for serious diseases including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever
Identified on: 1/6/2026