Can Lice survive off the body?
Lice cannot survive for more than 48 hours away from a human scalp. Nits (lice eggs) can survive for up to 10 days but need a blood meal from a human one-hour after hatching. For that reason human head lice cannot survive for long periods of time on animals, but animals can be the carrier of the lice. For instance, if two children are playing with a dog, the dog can ‘transport’ the louse from one child to another. • How Can You Tell If Nits Are Alive Or Dead? Nits (lice eggs) are very small, so it is difficult to tell if a nit is alive or dead. Experts say empty eggshells are whitish in color while intact live eggs are reddish brown in color but since it is so difficult to tell, all nits dead or alive should be removed. • Will Nits Fall Out? Nits are fastened or cemented to the hair shaft. They will not fall off of the hair, as the hair grows the nits will grow out with it.
