Head Louse

Pediculus capitis

Appearance

Image of Head Louse (Pediculus capitis) | Rentokil Pest Control Canada
  • Adult Head louse are soft-bodied insects, off-white in colour. 3mm in length.  Each leg bears a single claw with which the louse grips hair or clothing.

Lifecycle

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

Habits

  • When a louse falls off a person, it dies within 48 hours.
  • Lice easily move between hosts when the hosts are in direct contact.