What do lice look like on the head? - briefly
Lice are tiny, wing‑less insects about 2–4 mm long, tan‑to‑gray, with a flattened oval body and six legs that grasp individual hair shafts near the scalp. They appear as moving specks on the hair or as attached, oval, white‑to‑brown nits secured close to the hair root.
What do lice look like on the head? - in detail
Lice that infest the human scalp are tiny, wing‑less insects measuring approximately 2–4 mm in length. Their bodies are elongated and flattened, consisting of a head, thorax, and abdomen. The head bears a pair of short antennae and mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Six legs end in claw‑like tarsi that enable a firm grip on hair shafts.
Color varies from gray‑white in unfed individuals to a darker brown after a blood meal. The exoskeleton is semi‑transparent, allowing the underlying gut contents to influence hue. Lice move rapidly, often remaining concealed among hair strands; visual detection typically requires close inspection or the use of a fine‑toothed comb.
Eggs, commonly called nits, are attached firmly to the base of each hair shaft with a cement‑like secretion. Nits are oval, about 0.8 mm long, and appear tan to white before hatching. Their position, typically within 1 cm of the scalp, distinguishes them from stray hair debris.
Key visual identifiers:
- Length: 2–4 mm, visible only with magnification or careful visual inspection.
- Body shape: elongated, three‑segmented (head, thorax, abdomen).
- Color: gray‑white to brown, semi‑transparent exoskeleton.
- Legs: six, ending in clawed tarsi for gripping hair.
- Antennae: short, situated on the head.
- Nits: oval, 0.8 mm, cemented close to the scalp, tan‑white.
Recognition of these characteristics enables accurate identification of a scalp infestation.