Community identification
Body louse
Pediculus humanus humanus
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea, Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Typically found on human clothing and bedding, only moving to the skin to feed
Diet & Feeding
Strictly hematophagous, feeding on human blood several times a day
Behavior Patterns
They hide in the seams of clothing and lay their eggs (nits) there. They are highly dependent on human body warmth to survive and usually die within a week if separated from a host.
Risks & Benefits
Significant health risk as they are vectors for diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They cause intense itching and skin irritations.