Louse Egg (Nit)
Scientific Name: Pediculus humanus capitis (for head louse nits), Pthirus pubis (for pubic louse nits), Pediculus humanus humanus (for body louse nits)
Order & Family: Phthiraptera / Pediculidae or Pthiridae
Size: Approximately 0.8 mm - 1.0 mm long
Natural Habitat
Attached to hair shafts (head, pubic, body hair) or clothing fibers, close to the skin for warmth and humidity.
Diet & Feeding
N/A (eggs do not feed, they contain developing louse nymphs)
Behavior Patterns
Louse eggs are laid by adult female lice and are cemented firmly to hair shafts or clothing fibers. They are typically oval-shaped and whitish-grey to tan in color. They hatch after about 7-10 days, releasing nymphs. The empty egg case, or 'nit shell', remains attached to the hair and can appear white or clear.
Risks & Benefits
Potential risks include itching, skin irritation, and secondary bacterial infections from scratching. Lice infestations are primarily a nuisance and do not typically transmit diseases in the same way as some other ectoparasites. There are no known benefits.
Identified on: 10/30/2025