What do flea eggs look like on hair? - briefly
Flea eggs are tiny, white, oval‑shaped spheres about 0.5 mm long that cling to individual hair shafts near the skin. They appear as a fine, dust‑like coating often mixed with dandruff or other debris.
What do flea eggs look like on hair? - in detail
Flea eggs are tiny, oval to slightly elongated structures measuring about 0.5 mm in length and 0.2 mm in width. Their shells are smooth, translucent to white, sometimes taking on a faint yellow hue when freshly laid. The surface lacks any ridges or ornamentation, giving the eggs a glass‑like appearance under magnification.
When deposited on an animal’s coat, eggs cling loosely to individual hairs or become trapped in the dense undercoat. They are often found near the base of the spine, around the neck, and in the groin area—regions where adult fleas preferentially feed and lay. Because the eggs are not adhesive, they may fall to the ground within minutes, but while still on the hair they appear as minute specks that can be mistaken for dandruff or lint.
Key visual cues for identification:
- Size: roughly the width of a pinhead; visible only with a magnifying lens.
- Color: milky white to pale yellow; becomes darker as the embryo develops.
- Shape: smooth, oval, with slightly pointed ends; no visible segmentation.
- Location: clustered in warm, sheltered sections of the coat; often in groups of 5‑10.
- Texture: delicate shell that crumbles easily when touched.
Microscopic examination reveals a thin, flexible chorion surrounding a single developing larva. The interior appears as a faint, darker spot, indicating embryo growth. As the egg ages, the chorion may become slightly opaque, and the embryo becomes more discernible.
Distinguishing flea eggs from other debris:
- Dandruff: flaky, irregular, gray‑white; does not form distinct ovals.
- Hair casts: tubular, encircle the hair shaft; larger and more rigid.
- Mite eggs: typically smaller (0.2 mm), often laid in clusters on skin rather than embedded in hair.
Detecting eggs requires a fine-tooth comb or a flea comb, followed by inspection of the comb’s teeth on a white surface. Any white specks that slide off the comb are likely flea eggs; they can be collected and examined under low‑power magnification for confirmation.