Human Head Louse
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus capitis
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea, Family: Pediculidae
Size: 2 mm to 3 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Exclusively on the human scalp, attaching eggs to hair shafts near the skin.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate ectoparasite that feeds exclusively on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless and cannot jump; they spread through direct head-to-head contact. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).
Risks & Benefits
While they do not transmit diseases, they cause intense itching, local irritation, and potential secondary skin infections from scratching.
Identified on: 2/26/2026