More Fun Facts

for Head Lice Enthusiasts

Here we have a few more interesting tidbits about lice that we've picked up over the years.

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A very old parasite: Head lice have been around for millions of years, with fossil evidence suggesting they lived alongside early humans. They are considered one of the oldest parasites known to humans.

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Lice in history: Ancient Egyptians depicted head lice in their artwork, and the Greeks used tools very similar to the lice combs we use today.

 

Feeding habits: Lice feed on their human host four to six times a day, using specialized mouthparts to pierce the scalp and draw blood. Nymphs feed more frequently as they grow. It's an allergic reaction to the saliva lice inject while feeding that causes the itching sensation.

 

Nocturnal feeding: Lice tend to be more active at night, feeding more frequently during the dark hours. This is why some people notice more intense itching in the evening and night.

 

Lice like clean hair: Lice prefer to live on hair that is clean and free from oils because they need to cling to the hair shaft, and greasy hair is harder for them to attach to. 

 

Lice have excellent grip: Head lice have specially adapted claws, called tarsal claws, that allow them to cling tightly to hair, even during washing or vigorous movement.

 

Left or right-clawed: Like humans, lice can show a preference for using one claw over the other when gripping hair.

 

Lice's antennae: Lice use their antennae to detect chemical signals from their hosts, such as body heat and humidity, ensuring they glue their eggs down in an environment conducive to incubation and hatching. They are also highly sensitive to touch, enabling them to detect vibrations or movement, alerting them to danger.

 

Lice can "hold their breath": Lice breathe through tiny openings called spiracles. When submerged in water lice can close these openings, helping them survive for up to eight hours.

 

Gender differences: Female lice are larger than males and live longer. Males live for only about 10 days, while females live up to 30 or more days. 

 

Mating Process: Male lice engage in a mating "dance" where they crawl over the female's body and vibrate to attract her attention.

 

Egg-laying females: Even unfertilized female lice will lay 4-5 eggs twice a day for their entire adult life, which lasts around 16 days. However, if unfertilized, the eggs will never hatch. 

 

Nits and heat: Nits are typically laid within one centimeter of the scalp because the warmth there is necessary for them to incubate and hatch.

 

No natural predators: Lice don't have predators, like birds or mammals, that naturally control their populations. Their survival depends solely on their human hosts.

 

Global prevalence: It is estimated that there are 6 to 12 million cases of head lice anually in North America alone, primarily among school aged children.

 

Lice in space: Head lice are among the parasites that have been taken into space for research. Scientists studied how microgravity affects their life cycle.

Nit Pickers ~ Expert Lice Removal with a Gentle Touch