Bug Identifier
Louse
Community identification

Louse

Phthiraptera

Order & Family
Order Phthiraptera; families vary (e.g., Pediculidae for head lice)
Size
0.33 mm to 11 mm depending on species and life stage
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Typically found on the bodies of warm-blooded hosts like humans, mammals, and birds

Diet & Feeding

Obligate parasites that feed on host blood or skin debris/secretions

Behavior Patterns

Wingless insects that spend their entire life cycle on a host; eggs (nits) are glued to hair or feathers

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching, skin irritation, and in some species, transmission of diseases like typhus; no known benefits to the host