Talk:Body louse

Wikipedia vs Wiktionary
Wikipedia says that the body louse is Pediculus humanus humanus, while wiktionary says that it's Pediculus humanus corporis. Even if the difference is not important, it's confusing. If it's not important, THAT should be referenced. Rick lightburn (talk) 03:24, 13 December 2007 (UTC)


 * The correct name is Pediculus humanus humanus or simply, Pediculus humanus if Pediculus capitis is accepted.
 * P. humanus corporis was created by DeGeer in opposition to P. humanus capitis. But this taxonomic situation is unacceptable according to the ICZN since the typical subspecies (P. humanus humanus) is missing.
 * According to different sources (Wikipedia.de; Fauna Europaea), P. h. corporis is only a synonym of P. h. humanus.
 * According to wikipedia.de (see References) - and I think is right - the two subspecies of P. humanus (P. h. humanus and P. h. capitis) are actually two different species, since the different habitats (head / corp) are not interchangeable; that is both forms are not able to change their habitats. Therefore, the habitat is a genetic barrier between both form, which are de factu two species (P. huumanus Body Louce and Pediculus capitis Head Louce ).
 * I think we should change our page according to this more modern point of view.--Vitalfranz (talk) 05:52, 31 August 2008 (UTC)


 * If the "modern view" is that body lice are Pediculus humanus humanus, then this view should be cited in the article. At present, the only 20th century reference is Buxton (1947), who apparently prefers Pediculus humanus corporis.
 * Further, it appears there is some controversy, or at least confusion, regarding the proper name Pediculus humanus humanus vs. Pediculus humanus corporis. I think this indicates that a section of the article should discuss why one name is prefered... or alternatively, that entomologists continue to disagree.
 * I'm not familiar with ICZN rules, but I do know that I find Pediculus humanus corporis to be a more descriptive name (i.e., describing the lice's habitat), and therefore a more useful and pleasing name. Noca2plus (talk) 06:13, 1 September 2008 (UTC)

Indistinguishable?
How can you tell the difference between a BODY and a HEAD louse? THey look the same to me!

The current article says:
 * Pediculus humanus humanus (the body louse) is indistinguishable in appearance from Pediculus humanus capitus (the head louse) and under laboratory conditions they will interbreed. In their natural state, however, the two subspecies do not interbreed and occupy different habitats. In particular, body lice have evolved to attach their eggs to clothes, whereas head lice attach their eggs to the base of hairs.

But then they are distinguishable - just test if they prefer to lay their eggs in hair or clothes... Thue | talk 01:04, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

In appearance though, they are virtually impossible to tell apart - until you get them under a microscope.. even then though, it can be tricky. I know of an entomologist who recently viewed one and while able to identify it as a louse, he was unable to state whether it was a head or a body louse due to the fact that the sample was slightly damaged as it had been trapped under sticky tape. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.7.249.103 (talk) 14:27, August 29, 2007 (UTC)

In the "External Link" Body and head lice it says that they are indistinguishable except that the body louse is larger. Signedzzz (talk) 12:56, 6 June 2014 (UTC)

Life Cycle
Can someone add a section on the life cycle of the louse? Thx. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.16.28.198 (talk) 02:11, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

Louse territory
Can head and body lice cross over into each other's territory to get to where they are suppose to go? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.28.211.200 (talk) 23:40, 15 March 2009 (UTC)

Can the body lice in bed in the skin? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.99.111.58 (talk) 00:36, 21 August 2009 (UTC)

Pubic lice
Pubic lice (Pthirus) is a different species.--Miguelferig (talk) 20:05, 9 July 2015 (UTC)

wrong image
This image https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Body_Louse_(Pediculus_humanus_humanus).jpg is a pubic louse, not a body louse. See here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File_talk:Body_Louse_(Pediculus_humanus_humanus).jpg — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.53.64.82 (talk) 21:21, 10 May 2018 (UTC)

I had to edit this page for a class and I have spent all semester looking up articles and editing this page the best that I could. If there are any questions to why I did what or if something needs to be changed don't hesitate to shoot me a message. Hjk91117 (talk) 17:29, 20 April 2020 (UTC)Hjk91117