What do lice look like in a home setting? - briefly
«Lice» are tiny, wing‑less insects 2–4 mm long, with a flattened, oval, gray‑white body and six short legs that grasp hair shafts; their eggs, called «nits», appear as tiny, cemented, oval shells attached close to the scalp or skin. In a domestic environment they are typically found on the scalp, body hair, clothing seams, and upholstered furniture where they cling to hair or fibers.
What do lice look like in a home setting? - in detail
Lice encountered in a household are small, wing‑less insects measuring 2–4 mm in length. Their bodies are flattened laterally, facilitating movement through hair shafts and fabric fibers. The exoskeleton exhibits a translucent to grayish‑brown hue; after feeding, the abdomen may appear slightly reddish due to ingested blood.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Six legs ending in claw‑like tarsal segments, adapted for gripping hair or textile threads.
- Antennae composed of five segments, each bearing sensory receptors.
- A head equipped with a pair of compound eyes and a mouthpart designed for piercing skin and sucking blood.
- A thorax covered with fine hairs that can reflect light, giving a slightly glossy appearance.
Eggs, commonly called nits, differ markedly from adult lice. They are oval, 0.8 mm long, and firmly attached to the base of hair strands or fibers by a cement‑like secretion. Nits appear white or yellowish when freshly laid, darkening to brown as the embryo develops. The attachment point is typically within 1 cm of the scalp or skin surface; removal often requires a fine‑toothed comb.
In a home setting, lice are most frequently observed in the following locations:
- Scalp hair of children, where dense hair provides a suitable habitat.
- Body hair of adults, particularly in the armpits, chest, and pubic region.
- Bedding, pillowcases, and mattress seams, where detached nits or adult lice may reside temporarily.
- Clothing, especially undergarments and socks, which can harbor body lice during infestations.
Adult lice move quickly, exhibiting a jerky, crawling motion. When disturbed, they may drop from the host and remain motionless for several minutes, a behavior known as “hiding.” Their legs enable rapid navigation across uneven surfaces, allowing them to traverse fabric weaves and hair strands with ease.
The combination of size, coloration, body shape, and the distinctive appearance of attached nits provides a reliable visual basis for identifying lice within a domestic environment.