What do fleas look like on the head? - briefly
Fleas are tiny, dark, wingless insects about 1–3 mm long that scuttle across the scalp, often visible as quick, jumping specks and causing small, itchy red bumps.
What do fleas look like on the head? - in detail
Fleas that infest a human scalp are tiny, laterally flattened insects measuring 1–3 mm in length. Their bodies are dark brown to reddish‑black, with a hard exoskeleton that gives a shiny appearance. Segmented thorax bears strong, comb‑like spines (ctenidia) that help the parasite cling to hair shafts. Legs end in tiny claws adapted for grasping individual strands, allowing rapid movement through dense hair.
Key visual cues include:
- Movement: Fleas jump erratically, often appearing as brief, dark specks that disappear and reappear on different parts of the scalp.
- Bite marks: Small, pinpoint red papules surrounded by a halo of irritation; the central punctum may be slightly raised.
- Excrement: Tiny black specks resembling pepper, often found on hair or skin surface, indicating recent feeding.
- Hair damage: Localized thinning or broken hairs where the flea has repeatedly attached.
These characteristics differentiate flea presence from other scalp parasites such as lice, which are larger (2–4 mm), have a more uniform grayish color, and lack the pronounced spines on the thorax. Observing the combination of rapid jumping, dark specks, and characteristic bite lesions provides a reliable identification of flea infestation on the head.