Pubic Louse (Crab Louse)

Natural Habitat

Human coarse body hair, most notably pubic hair, but also eyelashes, eyebrows, beard, and armpits

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophage; feeds exclusively on human blood several times a day

Behavior Patterns

Slow-moving crawlers that grasp hair shafts with specialized crab-like claws; they cannot jump or fly and usually remain at the base of the hair

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching (pruritus) due to allergic reaction to saliva, skin inflammation, and potential secondary bacterial infections from scratching; they are not known vectors of disease but are considered a public health nuisance

Identified on: 1/10/2026