ARE THERE DIFFERENT KINDS OF HUMAN LICE?
There are several species or kinds of lice that feed on people. One species feeds specifically on the head and is called the head louse. • 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, freque
