Do Head Lice Have a Queen?

The first step in controlling a head lice infestation is to remove the head lice from your child’s head. Most cases of head lice are contracted at home, so it’s vital to eliminate the problem as early as possible. Lice are easily killed when they are caught early, so be sure to check your child’s head daily.

Head lice live on human hair and are parasitic insects. They hatch from egg cases, called nits, which are white or grayish. Once these eggs hatch, they develop into small larvae (nymphs) that grow to adulthood in about nine to twelve days. Adult head lice feed on blood to survive.

In Cleopatra’s day, getting rid of head lice was a sign of status, and the poor shaved their heads to get rid of the infestations. The rich, however, had their heads covered by wigs. There’s even a myth about the queen of Medusa, which is a representation of head lice. Approximately six to 12 million people in the US and twenty million in Europe get lice every year.

During the life cycle, head lice molt several times. Each molt increases their size. Adult head lice are about the size of a sesame seed and are brown in color. They move from one location to another by crawling. If you find any eggs, it’s best to treat them right away.