Body Louse (or possibly Head Louse)

Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus humanus (or Pediculus humanus capitis)

Order & Family: Order: Phthiraptera, Family: Pediculidae

Size: 2.0 mm to 4.0 mm in length

Body Louse (or possibly Head Louse)

Natural Habitat

Typically found in clothing, bedding, and seams of fabric (body lice), or on the human scalp and hair (head lice). The image background suggests it is on a blue textile/fabric.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous (blood-sucking); they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

Body lice live in clothing seams and only move to the skin to feed. Head lice cling to hair shafts. They are obligate parasites that cannot fly or jump but crawl rapidly. They lay eggs (nits) cemented to hair or fabric fibers.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Causes intense itching (pruritus) and skin irritation. Body lice are significant vectors for diseases such as typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever. Benefits: None known.

Identified on: 3/1/2026