What do lice look like on a finger? - briefly
Lice on a finger appear as tiny, flat, elongated insects about 2–3 mm long, gray‑brown in color, with six legs ending in claw‑like tarsi that cling tightly to the skin.
What do lice look like on a finger? - in detail
Lice observed on a fingertip are tiny, wingless insects measuring 2–4 mm in length. Their bodies are flattened, facilitating movement through hair shafts and skin folds. The exoskeleton is semi‑transparent, allowing the underlying hemolymph to give a pale gray or light brown hue. Eyes consist of simple ocelli, appearing as tiny dark spots near the head. Antennae are short, segmented, and usually darker than the body.
The legs are six in total, each ending in claw‑like tarsal hooks that grip hair strands. These claws are visible as minute, curved projections near the distal end of each leg. Abdomen segments display a subtle pattern of fine, longitudinal lines; the posterior segment often bears a pair of small, pointed structures called rectal filaments.
When a louse is alive on a finger, it may be seen moving slowly, its legs producing a characteristic “walking” motion. The insect’s movement is deliberate, pausing frequently to feed. Feeding involves inserting a needle‑like proboscis into the skin, creating a tiny puncture that may appear as a red dot surrounded by a faint halo of irritation.
Key visual identifiers:
- Size: 2–4 mm, comparable to a grain of rice.
- Color: translucent to light brown, sometimes appearing reddish after a blood meal.
- Body shape: flattened, elongated, with visible segmentation.
- Legs: six, each ending in hooked claws.
- Head: small, with dark ocelli and short antennae.
- Abdomen: striping of fine lines; posterior filaments may be present.
Recognizing these features enables accurate identification of lice on the fingertips without confusion with other small arthropods such as mites or fleas.