Louse
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus capitis (Head louse) or Pediculus humanus humanus (Body louse)
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea; Family: Pediculidae
Size: 2mm to 4mm in length
Natural Habitat
Exclusively on the human body, specifically hair (head louse) or clothing and bedding (body louse)
Diet & Feeding
Obligate parasites that feed exclusively on human blood several times a day
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless and cannot jump; they move by crawling. They lay eggs (nits) that glue firmly to hair shafts or clothing fibers. They require warmth and proximity to human skin to survive more than 24-48 hours.
Risks & Benefits
Causes intense itching and scalp irritation. While head lice do not transmit disease, body lice are known vectors for diseases like typhus. Benefits are none; they are strictly parasitic pests.
Identified on: 3/9/2026