Community identification
Body Louse
Pediculus humanus humanus
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea / Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2.3 to 3.6 millimeters in length
Natural Habitat
Inhabits the clothing and bedding of humans, traveling to the skin only to feed.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood feeders, consuming human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are social insects that lay their eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing. They cannot jump or fly but crawl through contact.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, allergic reactions, and the potential transmission of dangerous diseases like epidemic typhus and trench fever. There are no ecological benefits to humans.