What do flea nits look like? - briefly
Flea nits are tiny, oval, white or cream-colored eggs about 0.5 mm long, firmly attached to hair shafts close to the skin. Within a few days they darken to a brownish hue before hatching.
What do flea nits look like? - in detail
Flea nits, commonly referred to as flea eggs, are minute, oval‑shaped structures measuring approximately 0.5 mm in length and 0.2 mm in width. Their coloration ranges from a pale white when freshly laid to a yellow‑brown hue as they mature and begin to desiccate. The surface is smooth and slightly glossy, lacking any distinctive ridges or markings that would differentiate them from other arthropod eggs.
The shell, or chorion, is semi‑transparent, allowing the developing embryo to be faintly visible as a dark speck near the center. As the embryo advances, the internal contents become more opaque, giving the nit a denser appearance. When ready to hatch, the nit darkens further and may appear slightly swollen.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Size: about half a millimeter long, comparable to a pinhead.
- Shape: elliptical, tapering gently at both ends.
- Color progression: white → yellow‑brown → darker brown.
- Surface texture: smooth, non‑striated, with a subtle sheen.
- Transparency: initial translucency, increasing opacity with development.
Flea nits are typically attached to the host’s hair shafts or to fabric fibers by a sticky secretion produced by the adult flea. This attachment point can be identified by a tiny, glistening spot at the base of a hair or a speck on upholstery, often near seams or crevices where fleas congregate. Recognizing these traits enables accurate detection and effective treatment.