How does a pubic louse look in photos? - briefly
In photographs, a pubic louse appears as a tiny, flattened, crab‑like insect about 1–2 mm long, with a broad, rounded body, six legs (the front pair enlarged for gripping hair shafts), and a slightly glossy exoskeleton. Its coloration varies from pale tan to dark brown, often showing a subtle, mottled pattern.
How does a pubic louse look in photos? - in detail
Pubic lice, also known as Pthirus pubis, appear as tiny, crab‑shaped insects in photographic documentation. The adult body measures approximately 1–2 mm in length, giving a total span of 2–4 mm when the legs are extended. The exoskeleton is a light to medium brown, often appearing translucent under bright illumination. The head bears a pair of prominent, forward‑pointing antennae, each about one‑third the body length, and the eyes are simple ocelli positioned laterally.
The thorax supports six legs, three on each side. Each leg ends in a claw that grips hair shafts, creating a characteristic “crab‑like” silhouette when viewed from above. The legs are relatively short, but their positioning gives the insect a broad, flattened appearance. The abdomen consists of several segmented plates, giving a slightly oval outline; the dorsal surface may show fine, pale markings that become visible under magnification.
Nymphs, the immature stages, are slightly smaller (0.5–1 mm) and lack fully developed legs. Their coloration is paler, and the abdomen appears more translucent. In high‑resolution macro images, nymphs can be distinguished by the absence of distinct clawed legs and by the smoother, less segmented dorsal surface.
Nits—lice eggs—are oval, about 0.5 mm long, and firmly attached to the base of hair shafts. In close‑up photographs they appear as tiny, whitish or yellowish specks, often mistaken for dandruff. The cemented attachment makes the nits resistant to removal and visible as a line of dots along the hair.
Typical photographic conditions include:
- Magnification of 30–100× using a macro lens or digital microscope.
- Bright, diffused lighting to reduce shadows and reveal body details.
- A neutral background (e.g., white or gray) to contrast the brown exoskeleton.
- Focus stacking for depth‑of‑field, ensuring sharpness across the entire insect.
These visual characteristics enable reliable identification of pubic lice in clinical and forensic imaging.