"Bum lice," often referred to as pubic lice or simply crabs, are tiny parasitic insects that primarily infest the coarse hair in the human genital area. They are distinct from other types of lice, such as head lice and body lice, belonging to a separate species.
Characteristics of Pubic Lice
These minute creatures are aptly nicknamed "crabs" due to their body shape, which closely resembles that of a tiny crab. They are quite small, typically measuring about 1/16 inch (1.6 millimeters) or less in size, making them sometimes difficult to spot with the naked eye. While their preferred habitat is the pubic region, they can also be found in other areas with coarse body hair, including the armpits, chest hair, beard, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
Unlike head lice, which are adapted for living in scalp hair, or body lice, which tend to live in clothing and move to the body to feed, pubic lice have claws that are specifically designed to grasp the thicker, more widely spaced hairs found in the genital and other body hair areas.
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Pubic lice, Crabs, Bum lice |
| Type | Tiny parasitic insects |
| Size | Up to 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or less |
| Appearance | Resemble tiny crabs; have specialized claws |
| Primary Location | Genital area, but also other coarse body hair (armpits, chest, beard, eyelashes, eyebrows) |
| Distinction | Different species from head lice and body lice |
For more comprehensive information on pubic lice, you can visit the Mayo Clinic website.
