Crab louse

species of insect

The crab louse or pubic louse is an insect, which is a parasite on humans. It is found most often in pubic hair, but also lives in other areas on the body with dense hair. It can be spread from one human to another by sexual intercourse, but also through garments, towels and besheets, for example in a hotel. Crab lice are still visible with the human eye, they are about 1.5-2mm in size.

Crab louse
Scientific classification
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P. pubis
Binomial name
Pthirus pubis
Synonyms

Pediculus pubis Linnaeus, 1758

Note that head lice and Body lice are different species.