Community identification
Body Louse / Head Louse (Nymph/Adult)
Pediculus humanus
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera); Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 1 mm to 3 mm (approx. the size of a sesame seed).
Natural Habitat
Exclusively found on the human body, specifically on the head/scalp (Head louse) or in clothing/bedding (Body louse).
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless and cannot jump or fly; they move by crawling. They glue their eggs (nits) to hair shafts or clothing fibers. They require close proximity to a human host for warmth and food, usually dying within 24-48 hours if separated from a host.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Cause intense itching (pruritus) due to an allergic reaction to saliva. Body lice (but not head lice) can transmit serious diseases like epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Benefits: None.