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Body Lice
- Not as common as head and pubic lice in most societies -
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Summary: Body lice occur in crowded and unsanitary conditions where clothes are not regularly washed. Body lice infestations can result in epidemic typhus in these populations. Eggs, or nits, of body lice are laid on clothing unlike the related head and pubic lice which attach eggs to hairs.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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What are body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus)?
 Body lice are small (1-3 mm; 1/16"- 1/8") blood-sucking insects that closely resemble head lice to which they are related (see this page for a photograph of an adult louse). Body lice live in clothing and lay their eggs, or nits, on cloth fibers (right). Body lice move from clothing to the skin surface to feed (bite). Because body lice eggs are attached to clothing, these lice are generally not a concern where clothes are routinely washed.
Severe outbreaks of body lice, and louse-borne diseases (see below), have occured during wars, in prisons and on crowded ships, and similar situations but are less common today.
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Body louse eggs, or nits, on clothing (highly magnified, individual cloth fibers are visible). The nit on the left is older as indicated by its darker cap (left end of nit).
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Body lice bite to get blood and the bite leaves a red, itchy lesion. Body lice infestations have been associated with a form of typhus called Epidemic, or louse-borne, typhus caused by the bacterium Rickettsia prowazeki. Disease-causing bacteria are found in louse droppings which can be scratched into the skin causing infection. Scratching to relieve the itch can result in secondary infections, as well. Body lice are found worldwide, generally in crowded, poor and unsanitary populations such as the indigent, and refugees of war or natural disasters.
Symptoms of Epidemic typhus include severe headache, a high fever, cough, rash, muscle pain, chills, falling blood pressure, stupor, sensitivity to light, and delirium. Chronic body lice infestations, alone, can lead to malaise and generally "feeling lousy".
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Body lice eggs, or nits, in clothing
Eggs, or nits, of all human lice (head lice, body lice and pubic lice) are about 1 mm long. Nits of body lice are laid in clothing, attached to cloth fibers (above), whereas head and pubic lice attach their eggs to hairs.
Nits need body heat in order to hatch which generally takes seven to ten days. If infested clothes are not worn, body lice eggs won't hatch and may die. Lice molt through several immature stages before becoming adults.
How to treat body lice
Body lice can be effectively controlled with regular washing of clothes in hot water and detergent. There is no need for insecticides. During conditions of war or natural disaster, however, "delousing" with insecticide has been used to curb outbreaks of typhus and other diseases.
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Similar, blood-feeding, insect and mite pests
<== Physician's Guide to Arthropods of Medical Importance by Jerome Goddard. A guide for diagnosing arthropod bites and stings including head lice, body lice and pubic lice.
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