Crab Louse (or Pubic Louse)

Natural Habitat

Human body hair, primarily in the pubic region, but can move to armpits, facial hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophage; they survive exclusively on human blood, feeding several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They are relatively immobile once attached to a hair shaft. They grasp hairs with specialized crab-like claws and cement their eggs (nits) to the hair; they cannot jump or fly.

Risks & Benefits

Causes intense itching (pruritus) due to an allergic reaction to their saliva. They are considered a nuisance pest rather than a major disease vector, though they indicate close physical contact/infestation.

Identified on: 6/10/2026