Community identification
Human Lice
Pediculus humanus
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea, Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2.0 mm - 3.5 mm (about the size of a sesame seed)
Natural Habitat
Exclusively on the human body, specifically hair and scalp (head lice) or clothing (body lice)
Diet & Feeding
Obligate parasites that feed exclusively on human blood several times a day
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless and crawl between hosts through direct contact. They lay eggs (nits) firmly attached to hair shafts or clothing fibers. They cannot jump or fly.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, scalp irritation, and secondary skin infections from scratching. Body lice can transmit diseases like typhus, though head lice are not known to spread disease. They provide no known ecosystem benefits.