Where Do Head Lice Live When Not on Humans?

A head louse is a small, grayish insect that feeds on human blood from the scalp. It has six legs and is about the size of a sesame seed. Its eggs are laid on hair shafts that are less than a quarter-inch (5 millimeters) from the scalp. After laying the eggs, the female head louse produces a sticky substance to attach the eggs to the hair shaft. The eggs hatch after about six to nine days. The nymphs will develop into adults after nine to twelve days. The adult louse can live for three to four weeks and lay up to six eggs per day.

Lice can live on the scalp and spread to other people, so it is important to ensure that the area where head lice are present is kept clean. Vacuuming the area around infested people will help to remove the lice. Keeping water sources clean is also important to eliminate any possible risk of spreading the infection.

Despite the fact that head lice are highly contagious, it is not likely that you could get head lice from your pet. Since head lice do not have claws or wings, they can live on nearly any part of your scalp. Most often, they settle on the hair near the ears. However, they can be found in other areas, such as eyebrows and eyelashes.