A to Z of Pests

Head Louse

Pediculus capitis

Appearance

• Adults - 3mm long. Soft-bodied insects, off-white in colour.  Each leg bears a single claw with which the louse can grip hair or clothing.

Lifecycle

• The eggs of the head lice are called nits and are found firmly attached to the hair shaft. They are oval and usually yellow to white. Nits take about 1 week to hatch into nymphs (immature adults).
• Nymphs mature into adults about 7 days after hatching.
• Adult lice can live up to 30 days on a person's head.
• To live, nymphs and adult lice need to feed on blood.

Habits

• Lice move between hosts when the hosts are in direct contact.
• If a louse falls off a person, it dies within 2 days.