How Big Are Head Lice Nymphs?

Head lice nymphs are intermediate stages of the life cycle and look much like the adult louse. They are small and translucent, and molt three times before they are fully grown. A nymph grows up to 1.5 millimeters in length. Adult lice are typically two to three millimeters long. They eat blood to stay alive, and can lay up to 10 eggs daily.

When fully mature, adult head lice look like tiny sesame seeds. Their color depends on the colour of their host’s hair. They can live up to 35 days on the human head. The adult head louse is very small, with six legs and small claws on each. They feed on a human’s scalp several times a day.

Lice eggs are similar to pinheads and stick to hair. Once attached to the hair, they are not likely to move around. While they aren’t too large to be seen with the naked eye, they are easily confused with dandruff. They are yellowish-tan in colour, and they can blend into the colour of the host’s hair. They can be found in clusters and are typically found at the scalp and behind the ears.

Once attached to a human’s head, female louse nymphs hatch out in seven to twelve days. Their eggs have a small sticky coating on them that attaches them to hair shafts less than a quarter-inch (5 millimeters) away from the scalp. Adult head lice can live for up to two weeks before they die due to lack of food and optimal temperature.