What does a clothing louse eat? - briefly
The garment‑dwelling louse subsists on human blood, piercing the skin to obtain a small meal. Feeding occurs mainly at night when the host is undisturbed.
What does a clothing louse eat? - in detail
The clothing louse (Pediculus humanus corpus) obtains nourishment exclusively from the blood of its human host. It resides in the seams and folds of garments, emerging only to pierce the skin with its serrated mouthparts and draw a fluid meal. Each intake delivers approximately 0.5–0.8 µL of blood, sufficient to sustain the insect for several days. Feeding sessions last 30–60 minutes, after which the louse returns to the clothing habitat.
Blood digestion occurs in the midgut, where proteolytic enzymes hydrolyze hemoglobin and plasma proteins into amino acids and peptides. The resulting nutrients are absorbed, converted to glycogen stores, and used for metabolism and egg production. Excess water and nitrogenous waste are expelled as dilute urine, while indigestible heme is excreted in dark fecal spots that often appear on clothing fibers.
Key aspects of the feeding process:
- Host contact: Louse climbs onto exposed skin, typically on the neck, armpits, or waist.
- Piercing: Labrum and mandibles create a micro‑incision; anticoagulant saliva prevents clotting.
- Ingestion: Blood is drawn through a pharyngeal pump into the foregut.
- Digestion: Enzyme cascade in the midgut breaks down proteins; iron is sequestered to avoid toxicity.
- Excretion: Urine and feces are deposited on the garment, contributing to visible stains.
No evidence supports consumption of fabric fibers, skin debris, or other organic material. The species relies entirely on hematophagy for survival, reproduction, and development.