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pubic louse
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crab louse; Phthirus pubis
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Also called:
crab louse
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pubic louse

insect
Also known as: Phthirus pubis, crab louse
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

pubic louse, (Phthirus pubis), sucking louse in the human louse family, Pediculidae (suborder Anoplura, order Phthiraptera), that is found principally at the pubic and perianal areas, occasionally on the hairs of the thighs and abdomen, and rarely on other hairy regions of the human body. It is broad and small, averaging 1.5 to 2 mm (0.01 to 0.08 inch) in length. Its first pair of legs is smaller than the other two pairs. When seen under magnification, it looks like a crab.

The eggs, attached to a pubic hair, hatch in two or three weeks. This bloodsucking louse causes itching and inflammation of the skin that may result in eczema.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kara Rogers.