Some Fun Facts about Head Lice

The relationship between men and lice is quite unique. On one hand, there are humans – who have (unsuccessfully) tried to get rid of them for centuries. On the other hand, there are lice – who have stayed true to us. In fact, they are so loyal they cannot survive on any other species on the entire planet. How’s that for loyalty!

We all know what head lice are and how they make us feel. Let’s dig a bit deeper and discuss some fun facts about them. Read on:

• Head lice have been with us since our evolution. The first evidence of head lice was found when researchers discovered head lice on Egyptian mummies. Yes, they have been with us for a long time.
• When a head louse lays a nit, it takes around 7 to 10 days for it to hatch. Then, it requires another 7 to 10 days for it to become a fully-grown louse. You surely don’t want that to happen!
• Lice have been known to show a gender bias. For some reason, it has been found that women tend to get head lice more than men. This can be because of their way of social interaction. For instance, little girls in school engage in more head-to-head contact than little guys.
• Head lice are an incredible example of evolution at work. They are designed to have bodies that match perfectly with their environments. They are quite small and are tanned brown in color. This allows them to hide perfectly in the only place they can survive – the human head.
• When a head louse is born, it has a neutral color. It is only after feasting on human blood that it acquires a brownish-red color.
• In the head lice kingdom, things are slightly reversed. The female of the species is slightly bigger than the male. However, this might not come as a surprise when you consider the fact that the female louse can lay around 3 to 6 eggs everyday for her entire lifetime. Amazing feat, right?
• The female also releases saliva that has glue-like characteristics. This ensures that the eggs she lays do not fall out of the hair follicle.

We at Lice Busters offer head lice removal services in Pinecrest. With a team of professional lice removal experts, we ensure that your kids’ heads get absolutely lice-free. Learn more about our process.