What does a clutch of lice look like? - briefly
A clutch of lice appears as a dense cluster of tiny, oval, gray‑white insects, each about 2–3 mm long, clinging together on hair shafts or surrounding a nymphal egg case. The group resembles a microscopic dusting of flattened, wingless bodies packed tightly around the host’s hair.
What does a clutch of lice look like? - in detail
A cluster of head‑lice consists of numerous tiny insects densely packed on a human scalp or hair shaft. Each adult measures about 2–3 mm in length, with a flattened, elongated body and six legs ending in claw‑like tarsi that grip hair strands. The exoskeleton is semi‑transparent, ranging from light gray to brown, allowing internal organs to be faintly visible.
The group appears as a mottled, moving mass when the host moves the head. Lice cling together by interlocking their legs and by anchoring to the same hair filament. The visual impression is a thin, irregular line of insects following the direction of hair growth, often concentrated near the nape, behind the ears, and at the crown.
Key visual elements:
- Coloration: translucent to pale brown, sometimes with a slight reddish hue after feeding.
- Body shape: oval, dorsoventrally flattened, with a broader posterior.
- Leg arrangement: three pairs of short, spiny legs positioned laterally; each leg ends in a curved claw.
- Movement: rapid, jerky crawling; insects may appear to “jump” from one hair to another.
- Eggs (nits): oval, 0.8 mm long, firmly attached to hair shafts at a 45° angle; appear as tiny, whitish or yellowish specks that can be mistaken for dandruff.
When observed under magnification, the cluster reveals a dense aggregation of individuals, each with a pair of antennae extending forward, compound eyes on the head, and a ventral mouthpart adapted for blood‑sucking. The overall appearance is a compact, mobile infestation that can be distinguished from debris by the consistent body shape, leg morphology, and the presence of attached eggs.