Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Primarily found on human clothing, moving to the skin only to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate ectoparasite that feeds exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They lay their eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing and spend most of their life cycle in the fabric. They are spread through direct physical contact or shared clothing and bedding.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risk to humans as they are vectors for serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They cause severe itching and skin irritation; they provide no ecological benefit to humans.

Identified on: 12/28/2025