Community identification
Human Head Louse (Egg/Nit or Nymph)
Pediculus humanus capitis
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea (Phthiraptera); Family: Pediculidae
- Size
- Nits are approximately 0.8 mm; adults are 2-3 mm (about the size of a sesame seed).
Natural Habitat
Exclusively found on the human scalp, attaching eggs (nits) to hair shafts close to the skin.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages: they feed exclusively on human blood several times a day.
Behavior Patterns
They cannot fly or jump; they move by crawling. They spread through direct head-to-head contact. Nits take about 8-9 days to hatch.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching (pruritus) and secondary skin infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit systemic diseases. There are no ecological benefits to humans.