Body Louse

Natural Habitat

Typically found in the seams of clothing and bedding of people who are unable to bathe or change clothes regularly.

Diet & Feeding

Strict blood-feeders that consume human blood several times a day.

Behavior Patterns

They live and lay eggs (nits) in the seams of clothing, only moving onto the skin to feed. They spread through direct contact or sharing of infested garments.

Risks & Benefits

They are a significant health risk as they can transmit serious diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. They cause intense itching and skin rashes.

Identified on: 1/12/2026