A 2010 study that performed a second DNA analysis claimed that the divergence between head and body lice actually occurred about 190,000 years ago. Though there is some discrepancy, we can estimate that humans began wearing clothes roughly 200,000 to 50,000 years ago.

How did body lice evolve?

Through genetic analysis, Reed and colleagues determined that more than 3 million years ago, the human pubic louse originated from gorilla lice, where it adapted to grab onto large hairs spread farther apart. ... This means humans were likely tinkering with clothing use before leaving Africa, Reed said.

Where do body lice come from originally?

Summary: Body lice, which cause highly lethal epidemics (trench fever, typhus and relapsing fever Borrelia), originate from head lice. Body lice, which cause highly lethal epidemics (trench fever, typhus and relapsing fever Borrelia), originate from head lice.