Human head louse

Exclusively the human scalp and hair

Obligate blood feeder, consuming human blood several times a day

Wingless insects that crawl; they cannot jump or fly. They attach their eggs (nits) to hair shafts near the scalp with a waterproof glue-like substance. They spread through direct head-to-head contact.

Cause intense itching due to an allergic reaction to saliva; they are not known to spread disease but can cause secondary skin infections from scratching. They have no ecological benefits for humans.