Louse (Head, Body, or Pubic Louse)

Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus or Pthirus pubis

Order & Family: Order: Psocodea / Family: Pediculidae or Pthiridae

Size: 1mm to 3mm

Louse (Head, Body, or Pubic Louse)

Natural Habitat

Human body hair (scalp, eyebrows, chest) or clothing/bedding in close contact with humans

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous ectoparasites that feed exclusively on human blood

Behavior Patterns

They are wingless and crawl between hosts via direct contact; they lay eggs (nits) that glue firmly to hair shafts or clothing fibers

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching, skin irritation, and secondary bacterial infections from scratching. Body lice can transmit diseases like epidemic typhus. No known benefits.

Identified on: 5/13/2026