Human Head Louse Egg (Nit)
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus capitis
Order & Family: Order: Psocodea; Family: Pediculidae
Size: Approximately 0.8 mm in length (about the size of a grain of sand or a knot in thread).
Natural Habitat
Exclusively on the human scalp, typically found attached to hair shafts near the skin surface.
Diet & Feeding
Nits do not eat; however, once hatched, the nymph and adult louse feed exclusively on human blood.
Behavior Patterns
The female louse lays eggs by cementing them to hair shafts with a waterproof glue-like substance. Eggs take approximately 7-10 days to hatch into nymphs.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching (pruritus) and potential secondary skin infections from scratching; they are not known to spread disease. There are no known benefits.
Identified on: 2/22/2026