Which pest is commonly found in human habitats and can be a vector for disease?

Lice are small, wingless insects that are often found in close association with humans, making them a common pest in human habitats. They are primarily known for infesting the scalp (head lice), body (body lice), or the pubic area (pubic lice). One significant concern with lice is their role as potential vectors for disease transmission. Body lice, in particular, can carry pathogens that lead to serious health issues, such as typhus.

In contrast, while ants and bees are also found around human habitation, they do not typically act as vectors for human diseases in the same way lice do. Butterflies, on the other hand, are not parasitic insects and do not pose a health risk related to disease transmission. This makes lice the most relevant answer in the context of pests that can directly affect human health by serving as carriers of disease.