Body Louse

Natural Habitat

This louse lives primarily in people's clothing and bedding, only moving to the skin to feed.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly hematophagous; they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They lay their eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing and move to the host's body for short periods of feeding. They are typically spread through direct physical contact or by sharing infested clothing, towels, or bedding.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching, skin rashes, and thick/darkened skin over time. Unlike head lice, body lice can transmit serious bacterial diseases such as louse-borne typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. There are no ecological benefits known to humans.

Identified on: 3/31/2026