Body Louse / Head Louse (Nits)

The hair and skin of human hosts; head lice live on the scalp, while body lice live in clothing seams.

Obligate ectoparasites that feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.

They cannot fly or jump; they move by crawling. Eggs (nits) are cemented to hair shafts or clothing fibers and hatch in about 1-2 weeks.

Causes intense itching and skin irritation. While head lice do not spread disease, body lice can transmit epidemic typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever.