Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found on human clothing, particularly in the seams and folds, moving to the skin only to feed

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood-feeders that consume human blood several times a day

Behavior Patterns

Body lice live on clothing and lay their eggs (nits) in the seams of garments. They are spread through direct person-to-person contact or by shared clothing and bedding.

Risks & Benefits

They are vectors for serious bacterial diseases such as louse-borne typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Infestations cause intense itching and skin irritation.

Identified on: 6/1/2026