The pubic louse insect is easily differentiated from the head
louse and body louse by the strong thick claws of the mid and
hind legs, while the claws of the fore legs are long and fine.
The body is broader than long. The spread of pubic lice Adult
crab lice are only a little over half the size of body or head
lice, rarely more than 1/12" long. Their last two pairs of legs
terminate in hooked mitts that resemble crab claws. These lice
are confined to coarse pubic hair and sometimes armpits,
eyebrows and eyelashes. Pubic lice move very little in the pubic
region and produce few eggs. The most common method of
transmission of crab or public lice is by sexual intercourse.
When infested pubic hair detaches, lice can hatch on underwear,
towels, in beds, or on toilet fixtures. If their immediate
environment is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, a pair of pubic lice
could infest another person without personal contact. Pubic lice
life cycle The egg is small and glued to a body hair with a
sticky substance created by the f