Community identification
Head louse (nit/egg)
Pediculus humanus capitis
- Order & Family
- Phthiraptera (Psocodea), Pediculidae
- Size
- Eggs (nits) are about 0.8 mm long; adults measure approximately 2–3 mm.
Natural Habitat
Attached to human scalp hair, typically within a few millimeters of the scalp where warmth supports development.
Diet & Feeding
Adults and nymphs consume small blood meals from the human scalp using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Behavior Patterns
Wingless, host-dependent insects that crawl rather than jump or fly. Females cement eggs to hair shafts; nits remain firmly attached and hatch in roughly 7–10 days.
Risks & Benefits
Cause head-lice infestation, itching, irritation, and possible secondary scratching infections, but do not transmit major human diseases. They have no meaningful ecosystem benefit.