Body louse eggs (Nits)

Natural Habitat

Typically found on the fibers of clothing, bedding, and linens used by humans, most frequently along the seams of undergarments.

Diet & Feeding

Eggs do not eat. However, the hatched nymphs and adults are obligate ectoparasites that feed exclusively on human blood.

Behavior Patterns

The female louse glues these oval-shaped, yellowish-white eggs to clothing fibers. After 7-10 days, nymphs hatch and begin feeding near the skin's surface. They are highly dependent on human body warmth.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Infestation (pediculosis corporis) causes intense itching and skin irritations. They are also known vectors for serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. There are no ecological benefits.

Identified on: 1/4/2026