Body Louse (Nymph)
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea; Family: Pediculidae
Size: 1mm to 4mm (Nymphs are smaller, approximately 1mm-2mm)
Natural Habitat
Found on humans, specifically in clothing and bedding of individuals who cannot wash or change clothes regularly.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
Unlike head lice, they live and lay eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing, only moving onto the skin to feed. They prefer cool environments and are sensitive to high temperatures.
Risks & Benefits
High risk to human health; they can transmit serious bacterial diseases such as louse-borne typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They cause intense itching and skin irritation.
Identified on: 1/8/2026