Body Louse (Egg/Nit)

Natural Habitat

Found on clothing fibers or bedding of humans, specifically near the seams of fabric worn close to the skin.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood feeders, consuming human blood multiple times a day.

Behavior Patterns

Unlike head lice, body lice live and lay eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing and only move to the skin to feed. They spread through direct contact or sharing infested clothes.

Risks & Benefits

High risk to humans; they can transmit serious diseases including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They cause intense itching and skin irritation.

Identified on: 6/23/2026