Pubic louse

Natural Habitat

Human body, primarily in the pubic region

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood-feeders that consume human blood multiple times a day

Behavior Patterns

They move slowly and grip onto coarse hair shafts with large claws that resemble crab pincers. They cannot jump or fly and are transmitted typically through close physical contact.

Risks & Benefits

They cause intense itching (pediculosis pubis) and skin irritation but are not known to transmit disease-causing pathogens. They are an infestation risk to humans.

Identified on: 1/4/2026