Bug Identifier
Louse (likely Head Louse or Body Louse)
Community identification

Louse (likely Head Louse or Body Louse)

Pediculus humanus

Order & Family
Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera), Family: Pediculidae
Size
2.0 mm to 3.5 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Exclusively on the human body, specifically hair follicles (head) or clothing seams (body).

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagy; they feed exclusively on human blood multiple times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They are wingless and cannot jump or fly; they crawl and cling to hair or fabric with specialized claws. They reproduce rapidly via eggs called nits that are glued to hair shafts or clothing fibers.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching, scalp irritation, and secondary skin infections from scratching. Body lice can transmit serious diseases like typhus, though head lice are primarily a nuisance and do not spread disease.