What do louse eggs look like? - briefly
Louse eggs, known as nits, are tiny (≈0.8 mm), oval, translucent to white‑yellow structures that cling tightly to hair shafts at a 30‑45° angle. Their strong attachment makes them difficult to dislodge without specialized combing.
What do louse eggs look like? - in detail
Lice eggs, commonly called nits, are oval to slightly elongated structures measuring approximately 0.8 mm in length and 0.3 mm in width. Their color ranges from translucent white when newly laid to yellowish‑brown as they mature and the embryo develops. The surface is smooth and somewhat glossy, lacking any discernible ridges or ornamentation.
The shell, or chorion, is composed of a tough, protein‑rich material that adheres firmly to hair shafts. Attachment occurs near the hair’s base, typically within 1–2 mm of the scalp, where the egg’s operculum (a cap‑like opening) faces outward. The operculum is a small, dome‑shaped aperture that permits the emerging nymph to exit after hatching; it often appears slightly darker than the rest of the egg.
Key visual characteristics:
- Size: 0.6–1.0 mm long, 0.2–0.4 mm wide.
- Shape: Oval, slightly tapered at one end.
- Color: Transparent white → pale yellow → light brown during development.
- Surface texture: Smooth, glossy, no external markings.
- Attachment point: Locked onto hair shaft with a cement‑like secretion; positioned close to scalp.
- Operculum: Small, dome‑shaped opening at the broader end, often a shade darker than the shell.
When examined under magnification, the internal contents are visible as a faint, yellowish mass. As embryogenesis progresses, the mass becomes more defined, and the operculum may show minute cracks indicating imminent hatching. After the nymph emerges, the empty shell remains attached to the hair, retaining its shape but becoming brittle and more translucent.