How does a human louse look in photos? - briefly
A human louse appears as a small, flattened, wingless insect about 2–4 mm long, with a gray‑brown body, six clawed legs, and short antennae that grip hair shafts. Photographs usually highlight its elongated body, distinct thorax, and head with tiny sensory organs.
How does a human louse look in photos? - in detail
The head louse captured in photographic images appears as a miniature, flattened arthropod measuring approximately 2–3 mm in length. Its body consists of three distinct regions: the head, thorax, and abdomen, each covered by a smooth, reddish‑brown exoskeleton that becomes darker after feeding on blood. The head bears a pair of short, bristle‑like antennae positioned near the front, and a set of compound eyes that are often indistinct in low‑resolution photos.
The thorax supports six jointed legs, each ending in sharp claws adapted for grasping hair shafts. Legs are positioned laterally, giving the insect a slightly hunched posture. The abdomen is segmented, appearing slightly rounded and may display a faint, translucent sheen when illuminated from certain angles.
Key visual elements observable in photographs:
- Size: 2–3 mm, comparable to a pinhead.
- Color: Reddish‑brown to dark brown; may appear lighter after a blood meal.
- Body shape: Oval, dorsoventrally flattened.
- Head: Short antennae, small compound eyes.
- Legs: Six, with clawed tarsi; positioned at the thorax.
- Abdomen: Segmented, sometimes showing a faint glossy surface.
Photographs often reveal additional details such as nits (egg shells) attached to hair shafts near the scalp. Nits appear as tiny, oval, white or pale brown structures, firmly cemented to the hair and measuring about 0.8 mm in length. The presence of both adult lice and nits in a single image provides a comprehensive view of the infestation’s visual characteristics.