/S^^T- 123619 238 Community Medicine (1983) 5, 238-241 Printed in Great Britain Maintenance of the crab louse, Pthirus pubis, in the laboratory and behavioural studies using volunteers lan Burgess John W. Maunder Skin Entomology Unit, London Schooi of Hygiene Q- Tropical Medicine Tin Than IVIyint Ministry of Health, Rangoon, Burma Summary Infections with crab lice (Pthirus pubis) remain common and may be increasing. These are difficult insects to maintain in captivity and in consequence their behaviour has been poorly studied. We were able to breed them in semi-natural conditions and obtained enough to be able to study their behaviour during the twenty-four hours following being released onto a volunteer. The results indicated that they are a more mobile insect than was previously thought and this finding has influenced our beliefs concerning their transference between hosts- INTRODUCTION Human infection with lice is still widespread today. The advent of organochlorine insecticides initially reduced their prevalence but the development of resistance by some strains has caused a resurgence of infection; particularly ofthe head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis.2-3-5-6-10 Little information is available regarding levels or distribution of infection with the crab louse, Pthirus pubis. Hearsay evidence suggests that this species is much more common and widespread than official figures would suggest but most sufferers are so appalled by the apparent connotations of the infection that they resort to a variety of means of self- treatment rather than seek professional help. Many ofthese home cures are not only potentially hazardous but also ineffective or inefficient and do not eradicate the offending insects. What little information is available suggests that infection with crab lice is increasing in prevalence. ’’4 If infected people continue to exercise inefficient treatment of crab louse infections then insecticide resistance is sure to develop. If such is the case a greater knowledge of its normal habit will be necessary. Since all species of anopluran lice require regular and frequent blood meals from their specific host, maintenance of these insects in the laboratory presents some problems. In the case of P. humanus and Pih. pubis numbers of human volunteers are required to maintain captive insects on themselves. Nuttall7 kept body lice, P. humanus humanus, in gauze-bottomed pill boxes strapped to the skin of the arm. He also kept Pth. pubis in a length of stocking taped around a leg." The boxes used for body lice are not suitable for crab lice since they do not allow free enough access to the host’s skin. The stocking method for crab lice was considered unsafe, in that it could easily