Community identification
Body Louse Egg (Nit)
Pediculus humanus humanus
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea (formerly Phthiraptera); Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- Eggs are approximately 0.8 mm long; adults are 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm
Natural Habitat
Typically found on the seams of clothing and bedding of humans with limited access to hygiene
Diet & Feeding
Exclusively human blood, taking several meals a day
Behavior Patterns
Unlike head lice, they live and lay eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing, only moving to the skin to feed
Risks & Benefits
High risk; they are vectors for serious diseases including epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever