These are the head and body lice of humans and some other primates. It is a so-called "sucking louse". They can be a problem in school children anywhere, including Alberta! Although they feed on blood and tissue fluids, they do not usually cause serious blood loss. However, the bite sites can be intensely itchy and may become infected. As well, because the lice take numerous blood meals and are easily transmitted from host to host by casual contact, they can transmit diseases such as relapsing fever and typhus.