Community identification
Human Head Louse (Egg/Nit)
Pediculus humanus capitis
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea; Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- Nits (eggs) are approximately 0.8 mm long; adults are 2–3 mm long.
Natural Habitat
Exclusively found on the human scalp, where they attach eggs to hair shafts close to the scalp for warmth.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly hematophagous; they feed on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They do not fly or jump; they move through crawling. Eggs (nits) are glued to hair shafts and hatch in about 7–10 days. They cannot survive for more than 48 hours off a human host.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching (pruritus) due to an allergic reaction to their saliva and potential secondary skin infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit systemic diseases. There are no ecological benefits to humans.