Informational

What are head lice?

The human head louse is a blood-sucking insect which leaves tiny bite holes in the scalp. These holes become itchy. Head lice don’t jump and they can't fly: they can only crawl. They migrate by head-to-head contact and are sometimes propelled by static electricity. For more on the world of the louse, read on…

What do they look like?

Prevent : sandy to dark grey in colour. Dark red after feeding. 6 legs with hooked feet

Prevent : white or yellow in colour. Like a flake of dandruff, only firmly attached. Empty cases stay attached after the eggs hatch

Nit

Females lay up to 8 nits a day over a period of 10 days or more.

Nymph

The nit becomes a juvenile (nymph) after 7 to 8 days. In another 7 to 10 days the nymph matures and is capable of laying nits.

Mature louse

Feeds on human blood and can survive without food or warmth for 8 to 24 hours.

Life expectancy

Lice live for about 33 to 35 days.

Favourite spots

Lice are most comfortable on the darkest parts of the scalp. They like it best behind the ears, where it is warm and moist. And they like to stay close to the scalp. So put the clippers away, there’s no point cutting your hair off!

Lice infestation

Lice can spread to anyone. They migrate by hair-to-hair contact, so children are most at risk. Having head lice has nothing to do with personal hygiene. Where are they found?