Pediculus

insect genus

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July 15, 2026

Quick Summary

The genus Pediculus refers to a group of small, wingless, parasitic insects commonly known as lice. These insects are ectoparasites, meaning they live on the outside of their host. There are two main types of lice: chewing lice and sucking lice.12

The most well-known species within the Pediculus genus is the human louse (Pediculus humanus). This species includes two subspecies: the head louse (P. humanus capitis) and the body louse (P. humanus humanus). Human lice feed on blood and can transmit diseases like typhus and relapsing fever. While lice can cause skin irritation and discomfort, they are also a vector for serious human diseases. Control methods include insecticidal treatments and maintaining good hygiene.321

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relapsing fever
…to another by lice (genus Pediculus) and from animals to humans by soft-bodied ticks of the genus Ornithodoros or by the hard-bodied tick Ixodes scapularis. Epidemics of the disease have occurred during wars, earthquakes, famines, and floods.
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…to another by lice (genus Pediculus) and from animals to humans by soft-bodied ticks of the genus Ornithodoros or by the hard-bodied tick Ixodes scapularis. Epidemics of the disease have occurred during wars, earthquakes, famines, and floods.
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