Chicken Body Louse vs Human Body Louse
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Chicken Body Louse | Human Body Louse |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Menacanthus stramineus | Pediculus humanus humanus |
| Order | Phthiraptera | Phthiraptera |
| Family | Menoponidae | Pediculidae |
| Size | 3-3.5 mm | 2.5-3.5 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Indoors |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Oceania | Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Chicken Body Louse
The most damaging louse of domestic poultry, feeding on feathers, skin, and blood. Heavy infestations cause feather loss, reduced egg production, and anemia.
Did You Know?
This louse is unusual among bird lice because it actively feeds on blood by gnawing through pin feathers, not just on feather material.
Human Body Louse
Closely related to the head louse but lives in clothing rather than on hair. It is the vector for epidemic typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever.
Did You Know?
Body lice are believed to have evolved from head lice when humans first began wearing clothing roughly 70,000 to 170,000 years ago.