What do lice look like in a person's hair? - briefly
Lice are tiny, wing‑less insects about 2–3 mm long, with a flattened, oval body that is tan, grayish‑brown, or reddish‑brown in color and six visible legs. Their eggs (nits) appear as small, white, firmly attached ovals clinging to the hair shaft near the scalp.
What do lice look like in a person's hair? - in detail
Head lice are tiny, wingless insects that live on the scalp and cling to hair shafts. An adult measures 2–4 mm in length, about the size of a sesame seed, and has a flat, elongated body that tapers toward the rear. The exoskeleton is semi‑transparent to light brown, allowing internal organs to be faintly visible through the cuticle. Six short legs end in claw‑like tarsi, each equipped with a pair of sharp hooks that grip individual hair strands securely.
Key visual traits:
- Color: light brown to grayish‑white; color may vary with age or blood meals.
- Body shape: oval, laterally compressed, with a distinct head capsule and a narrow abdomen.
- Eyes: small, dark spots on the lateral sides of the head capsule.
- Antennae: three‑segmented, each segment ending in a tiny sensory tip.
- Movement: rapid, “crawling” motion; can be seen scuttling across the scalp when disturbed.
Nymphs, the immature stages, resemble adults but are smaller (1 mm or less) and lighter in color. They undergo three molts before reaching full size, each molt leaving a faint pale line on the body.
Eggs (nits) differ markedly from the insects themselves. They are oval, 0.8 mm long, and firmly cemented to the hair shaft about 1 mm from the scalp. Nits appear white or yellowish and are often mistaken for dandruff; unlike flakes, they do not detach easily and remain attached until hatching.
Typical locations on the head include the nape of the neck, behind the ears, and the crown—areas where hair is dense and close to the scalp. Lice prefer the warm, moist environment near the skin, positioning themselves close enough to feed on blood several times a day.
Distinguishing features from debris:
- Firm attachment: pull a strand; a nit will resist removal, while dandruff slides off.
- Shape: lice are elongated and segmented; debris is amorphous.
- Movement: live lice move when the hair is brushed or when the scalp is warmed.
These characteristics allow reliable identification of an infestation through visual inspection or a hand‑lens examination.