CAN HEAD LICE SURVIVE ON PETS?
No, head lice are obligate parasites of humans, i.e., they must feed on humans in order to survive. • HOW LONG DO HEAD LICE LIVE? Lice may live for several weeks on a person, but they rarely live more than 48 hours when removed from a person’s body. • CAN HEAD LICE HOP OR JUMP? No, head lice cannot hop, jump or fly. Their legs are adapted for grasping a person’s hair. • DO HEAD LICE SPREAD DISEASES? No, head lice are not known to transmit any disease agents. However, secondary infections may result if the skin is broken by repeated scratching. • WHAT ARE “NITS”? Nits are louse eggs. They are small (about 1/32 inch), white to cream color, and oval in shape with a distinct cap. Nits are often the first sign of a head lice infestation. • WHERE ARE NITS FOUND? Head lice glue their eggs to the base of the hair shaft, frequently behind the ears or on the nape of the neck. • HOW MANY EGGS DOES A FEMALE HEAD LOUSE LAY? A female head louse produces about four eggs per day and a total of about 8
