What do dead lice look like? - briefly
Dead lice appear as small, flattened, gray‑brown bodies about 2–3 mm long, often with a matte, lifeless sheen and broken legs. Their antennae and mouthparts may be curled or collapsed, and they lack any movement.
What do dead lice look like? - in detail
Dead lice are tiny, flattened insects measuring 2–4 mm in length. Their bodies become a dull, translucent gray or light brown after death, losing the glossy sheen of live specimens. The exoskeleton dries and contracts, causing the abdomen to appear shrunken and the overall shape to be more rigid.
Key visual characteristics:
- Color shift – from the reddish‑brown of living lice to a pale, almost white or gray tone.
- Surface texture – exoskeleton becomes matte and may show fine cracks where the cuticle has dried.
- Legs and antennae – legs often curl inward or break off; antennae may be missing or reduced to short stubs.
- Eyes – compound eyes lose their dark pigment and appear translucent or absent.
- Mobility – no movement; any twitching indicates the louse is not dead.
Differences between developmental stages:
- Nymphs – smaller (1–2 mm), lighter in color, and less sclerotized; after death they appear almost transparent.
- Adults – larger, more heavily sclerotized; dead adults retain a recognizable oval shape despite shrinkage.
Environmental factors affect appearance. Lice that die from dehydration become brittle and may fragment, while those crushed by a comb or hairpin retain a more intact, albeit flattened, form. In all cases, the lack of respiration, visible through the absence of movement and the collapse of the ventral side, confirms death.