Definition

Noun: * A species of louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) that is an obligate ectoparasite, specifically infesting the human scalp and hair. It feeds on human blood and is commonly known as the head louse.

Usage

• This term is used in formal, medical, and entomological contexts to refer specifically to the insect that causes head lice infestations.
• It is a scientific name and is not typically used in everyday conversation, where "head louse" or simply "lice" is preferred.

Examples

• The school nurse confirmed the presence of in several students.
• The study focused on the life cycle and treatment resistance of .
• An infestation of is not an indication of poor hygiene.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in public health advisories and research literature.
• It can be abbreviated in taxonomic writing as after its first full mention.

Variants and Related Words

• Head louse (n.): The common name for .
• Pediculosis capitis (n.): The medical term for the condition of being infested with head lice.
• Pediculus humanus corporis (n.): The closely related species known as the body louse.

Synonyms

• Head louse

Notes on Different Meanings

• Pediculus capitis refers only to the head louse. The similar term Pediculus humanus corporis refers to the body louse, which infests clothing and the body, not the scalp.

Noun

1. infests the head and body of humans