What do lice and nits look like? - briefly
Adult head lice are wingless insects roughly 2–3 mm long, gray‑white and oval, with six clawed legs that cling to hair shafts. Their eggs, known as nits, are tiny (about 0.8 mm), yellow‑brown or white ovals firmly glued to the hair at a 45‑degree angle.
What do lice and nits look like? - in detail
Lice are tiny, wing‑less insects that survive by feeding on human blood. Adult head lice measure 2–4 mm in length, with a flattened, cigar‑shaped body. Their color ranges from gray‑white to tan, becoming darker after a blood meal. Six legs end in claw‑like tarsi that grip hair shafts tightly; each leg bears a pair of tiny spines for anchorage. The head is broader than the abdomen, and the antennae are short, concealed beneath the body when at rest.
Body lice are slightly larger, 3–4 mm long, and have a more robust, oval form. Their coloration is similar to head lice but may appear reddish after feeding. They lack the ability to cling to hair; instead, they live and lay eggs on clothing fibers, moving to the skin to feed.
Pubic lice (Pthirus pubis) differ markedly: they are 1.5–2 mm long, with a broader, crab‑like body and short, stout legs ending in powerful claws adapted for coarse hair. Their color is typically brownish to gray.
Nits are the eggs of lice, attached firmly to the base of hair shafts near the scalp. An individual nit is oval, about 0.8 mm long, and has a smooth, translucent shell that hardens after laying. Freshly laid nits appear white or pale yellow; as embryos develop, the shells darken to amber or brown. The attachment point is a cement‑like secretion that resists removal, making the nits difficult to dislodge without specialized combs.
Key visual indicators:
- Adult lice: 2–4 mm, flattened, gray‑tan, six clawed legs, head broader than abdomen.
- Body lice: 3–4 mm, oval, similar coloration, no hair‑clinging ability.
- Pubic lice: 1.5–2 mm, crab‑shaped, short stout legs, brownish hue.
- Nits: 0.8 mm, oval, translucent to amber, firmly cemented near scalp.
Recognizing these characteristics enables accurate identification and effective treatment.