Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Clothing and bedding of humans, specifically in the seams where they come into contact with skin

Diet & Feeding

Strictly hematophagous (blood-feeding), consuming human blood several times a day

Behavior Patterns

They live and lay eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing and only move to the skin to feed. They are spread through direct contact or shared infested clothing/bedding.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include severe itching (pediculosis), skin thickening, and the potential to transmit serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They have no ecosystem benefits.

Identified on: 6/3/2026