( Latin: Pediculus humanus var. corporis )

Found only on the body and in clothing, the body louse lays its eggs in the seams and in similar sheltered places. It is somewhat hardier than the head louse and at 23° C it can live for 4 days without access to blood.

The best conditions for the spread of these lice are when humans are living close together under primitive conditions.

They do not thrive among people who maintain a good standard of hygiene with frequent changing and washing of clothes.

Body lice are important as vectors of typhus fever, trench fever and louse-borne relapsing fever. In populations where these diseases do not occur, the only effect of louse bites is the resultant annoying itch.