Of lice and men.

• Position: Science - Brief Article

The human louse finds people so delicious that it accepts no substitutes and cannot live more than a few hours away from the sustenance of the human body. The history of these pesky parasites dovetails with that of humans, reflecting several key events that have affected both species. This bug's-eye view of human history rests on analysis of louse DNA and on the creature's highly specialized habits. For example, head lice live only in the hairs of the human head; body lice have adapted to live in clothing. From tracing the development of these lice...