ABOUT HEAD LICE     

"Hi my name is Lenny Louse. If you've been scratching for answers to an age-old problem such as head lice, then stay with me. I will be sharing my secrets with you on how to avoid me and my mates from living in your (kid's) hair. But first of all let me give you some advice on lice"

What are head lice?

Head lice are tiny wingless insects that survive on the human head by sucking blood from the scalp. Head lice have 6 legs with claw like ends that assist them to climb along the hair shaft. They are normally translucent in colour but turn a dark red-brown colour once they have fed on blood. Head lice are not dangerous, do not carry diseases and are not a sign of poor hygiene.

Why are nits different from head lice?

Nits are the eggs laid by head lice. They are normally a pale yellow or creamy colour and when just laid they are found close to the scalp at the base of the hair shaft. After about 7 days, the eggs hatch, and new lice are released. Live nits are found on the hair within 1 cm of the scalp.

The Lifecycle of Head Lice

Head lice can live for up to 35 days on a person's head. Within that time the female louse can lay in excess of 100 eggs, which she attaches to the hair near the scalp. The lice eggs, called nits, hatch after about 7 days. Nits then hatch into nymphs. Nymphs are immature adult head lice and take about 10 days to mature into adult head lice.

Click on the lifecycle below to see the stages!