Hog Louse vs Human Body Louse
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hog Louse | Human Body Louse |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Haematopinus suis | Pediculus humanus humanus |
| Order | Phthiraptera | Phthiraptera |
| Family | Haematopinidae | Pediculidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 2.5-3.5 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Indoors |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America | Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Hog Louse
The largest louse found on domestic animals, exclusively parasitizing pigs. It feeds on blood and is most commonly found behind the ears and in skin folds.
Did You Know?
At up to 6 mm long, the hog louse is the largest sucking louse known, easily visible to the naked eye on infested pigs.
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.