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The Life Stages of Head Lice

Head lice is a common pest infestation, especially among children of elementary school age. Understanding the life cycle of the insect can help parents and health care personnel know the extent of a person's lice problem. It can also help doctors and nurses keep track of how quickly, and in what numbers, lice are reproducing.

Nit Stage
- A louse's egg, or nit, is attached to the scalp by a viscous liquid produced by the mother louse. Nits typically hatch after about ten days.
Nymph Stages
- Lice move through three nymph stages: first, second and third nymph. These stages take around a nine to 12 days to complete as the louse is growing. Each phase is marked by a molting of skin as the lice grow to slightly larger sizes.
Adult Stage
- An adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, with females slightly larger than males. A female lays around six eggs a day, laying a total of 50 to100 eggs during an entire lifespan. An adult louse can live for 30 to 40 days.

Insects & Science