Talk:Body louse
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How can you tell the difference between a BODY and a HEAD louse? THey look the same to me!
[edit] Indistinguishable?
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)