Community identification
Head louse
Pediculus humanus capitis
- Order & Family
- Order Psocodea, Family Pediculidae
- Size
- 2-3 mm long (roughly the size of a sesame seed).
Natural Habitat
The scalp and hair of humans; they are obligate ectoparasites that cannot survive long off a host.
Diet & Feeding
Exclusively human blood, which they obtain by biting the scalp multiple times a day.
Behavior Patterns
Lice cannot jump or fly; they crawl from person to person through direct head-to-head contact. Females lay eggs (nits) and cement them to hair shafts close to the scalp for warmth.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching (pruritus) due to an allergic reaction to louse saliva, and potential secondary skin infections from scratching. They do not transmit diseases.