Community identification
Louse (Head or Body Louse)
Pediculus humanus
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea; Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- 2mm to 4mm (roughly the size of a sesame seed).
Natural Habitat
Exclusively on the human body, specifically in hair or clothing fibers, depending on the subspecies.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate ectoparasites that feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They are wingless and crawl between hosts. They glue their eggs (nits) to hair shafts or clothing. They cannot survive for more than 24-48 hours away from a human host.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, allergic reactions to saliva, and potential secondary skin infections from scratching. Body lice can transmit diseases like typhus, though head lice do not.