What do head lice eggs look like? - briefly
Head lice ova are tiny, oval-shaped capsules about 0.8 mm long, appearing white or yellowish and slightly translucent. They are firmly glued to the hair shaft near the scalp, often resembling small, flattened shells.
What do head lice eggs look like? - in detail
Head louse ova, commonly called nits, are oval‑shaped and measure approximately 0.8 mm in length and 0.3 mm in width. The shell, or operculum, is semi‑transparent and ranges from a pale yellow to a light brown hue, depending on the age of the egg. Freshly laid nits appear almost colorless, while older ones darken as the embryo develops.
The surface of each egg is smooth and glossy, lacking any ridges or ornamentation. Anteriorly, a small, curved cap covers the operculum; this opening allows the emerging nymph to exit. The cap is slightly raised, giving the egg a subtle, dome‑like profile when viewed from the side.
Attachment points are critical for identification. Nits are firmly glued to individual hair shafts, typically within 1 cm of the scalp. The cement is clear and resistant to water, making the eggs difficult to dislodge without specialized tools. The attachment creates a slight bulge in the hair strand, which can be felt as a tiny “bump” when running a fingertip along the hair.
Key visual characteristics:
- Size: 0.8 mm × 0.3 mm (≈ 1 mm in length).
- Color: translucent yellow → light brown (progressive darkening).
- Shape: oval with a smooth, glossy surface.
- Operculum: small, curved cap at one end.
- Location: firmly cemented to hair close to the scalp.
Recognizing these features enables accurate differentiation from other hair debris, such as dandruff or hair‑fiber particles, which lack the firm attachment, uniform size, and characteristic operculum.