Body louse (egg/nit)

Natural Habitat

Typically found on clothing, bedding, and seams of fabrics that are in frequent contact with human skin.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood-feeders, consuming human blood multiple times a day.

Behavior Patterns

Unlike head lice, body lice live and lay their eggs in the seams of clothing. They only move to the skin to feed. They are spread through direct body contact or sharing infested clothing/linens.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching (pediculosis) and skin rashes. They are significant vectors for serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever.

Identified on: 3/12/2026