What do lice look like on a comb? - briefly
A comb reveals tiny, oval insects about the size of a sesame seed, typically tan or brown, clinging to hair shafts. Their eggs appear as small, white, cigar‑shaped nits firmly attached to the comb teeth.
What do lice look like on a comb? - in detail
Lice captured on a fine‑toothed comb appear as tiny, wingless insects about 2–4 mm long. Their bodies are flattened, oval, and covered with a translucent, gray‑brown exoskeleton that may appear almost invisible against light hair. Six short legs emerge from the thorax, each ending in a claw that clings tightly to hair shafts. When alive, they move slowly, exhibiting a characteristic hopping motion; dead specimens lie motionless, often appearing slightly darker.
Nits (lice eggs) are visible as tiny, oval capsules measuring 0.8 mm in length. They are firmly glued to the side of a hair shaft, typically within 1 cm of the scalp. The capsules are smooth, white to yellowish, and may become more opaque as the embryo develops. A hatched nit leaves an empty shell, called a nit shell, which remains attached to the hair and appears as a translucent, flattened disc.
Key visual cues on a comb:
- Live insects: gray‑brown, semi‑transparent body; visible legs and claws; may show slight movement when disturbed.
- Dead insects: darker, matte appearance; legs may be folded against the body.
- Nits: small, white or yellowish ovals attached at a 45‑degree angle to the hair shaft; firm adhesion makes them difficult to dislodge.
- Empty shells: clear, flattened remnants of nits; often mistaken for debris but retain the original oval shape.
The comb’s fine teeth (0.2–0.3 mm spacing) are designed to trap both adult lice and nits, allowing direct observation of these characteristics without magnification.