What do clothing lice look like on the body? - briefly
Clothing lice are tiny, flat, crab‑like insects about 1–2 mm long, tan to gray in color, with six legs and a body that clings to fabric seams. They move quickly across the skin, often causing itching and a crawling sensation.
What do clothing lice look like on the body? - in detail
Clothing lice, also known as body lice, appear as small, wing‑less insects measuring 2–4 mm in length. Their bodies are gray‑brown to tan, flattened laterally, and covered with fine hairs that give a slightly fuzzy texture. The head is proportionally large, bearing short antennae and compound eyes positioned near the front. Legs end in clawed tarsi, allowing the parasite to grasp fabric fibers and human skin.
When they are attached to a person, the following visual cues are typical:
- Movement: Rapid, jerky crawling over clothing seams, especially around the waist, armpits, and groin.
- Eggs (nits): Oval, creamy‑white or yellowish ovals, 0.5 mm long, cemented to fabric fibers near the base of hair shafts; they may be mistaken for lint.
- Skin reaction: Small, red papules or itchy bumps where the louse feeds, often grouped in linear patterns corresponding to clothing seams.
- Adult presence: Occasionally visible on the surface of loose garments; the insects may be seen briefly before dropping back into folds.
The insects are most active in warm, damp conditions and tend to congregate in areas where clothing is tight against the skin. Their feeding site is a tiny puncture on the skin surface, through which they ingest blood, leaving a pinpoint wound that can become inflamed if scratched. The combination of visible insects, egg clusters, and characteristic skin lesions provides a reliable identification of an infestation.