Lice Facts & Worksheets

Lice are parasitic insects commonly found on the parts of the human body like the head and pubic area. Some species of lice can cause parasitic infections and spread infectious diseases such as typhus and relapsing fever.

See the fact file below for more information on Lice or alternatively, you can download our 30-page Lice worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

LICE AMAZING FACTS

• Lice are insects that do not have wings. They move by crawling and not by jumping. Therefore, lice can be transmitted from one host to another through direct and physical contact like sharing personal belongings and head-to-head contact.
• Since lice cannot jump nor fly, they cannot spread quickly. Thus, you can only get infected if the lice of an infected person crawl onto you or if lice from his or her belongings crawl toward your body.
• Lice can infest almost everybody regardless of the person’s age, gender, or race.
• These parasitic insects feed on human blood to survive. Therefore, lice cannot live away from their host, the human body. Based on studies, adult lice can only survive for 24-48 hours of not feeding on blood. 
• Lice can take in human blood, equivalent to one-third of their body size. They also feed on blood at three to six hours intervals.
• An infected person who has a dark hair color or dark skin complexion will most likely be infected with lice that appear to be having a darker shade. On the contrary, if you have light hair color or light skin complexion, the lice will most likely also have a more golden color.

ANATOMY

• The body of a louse is usually flattened and elongated. The upper and lower surfaces of its body are commonly seen as flat. 
• Lice have three distinct parts that are separated from each other; these are the head, thorax, and abdomen. Based on the illustration on the right, these parts can be clearly distinguished. 
• The head is relatively smaller than the body. The thorax shows little sign of segmentation, while the abdomen has more distinct abdominal segments.  
• They have two eyes and two antennae on their head, and an oral apparatus or mouth. 
• Attached on both sides of the thorax are three pairs of legs. These legs are made up of a connected femur, tibia, and tarsus. They have a claw at the end of their legs, which they use to attach to hair or clothing.
• Lastly, located on the abdomen are their genital apparatus and respiratory orifices used for breathing.

TYPES

• There are three common types of lice. They are classified according to their appearance and the location on the human body where they are commonly found. Lice can be categorized as head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis), body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis), and pubic lice (Pthirus pubis).
• Head lice – This type of lice can be found on the upper part of a human body, namely the head. Head lice are commonly seen on the hair strands of the head, eyebrows, eyelashes, and sometimes near the back of the neck. 
• These head lice are commonly seen feeding on our blood, primarily through the skin of our scalp.
• The average length of a head louse is 2.1-3.3 mm.
• Head lice are wingless, parasitic insects that cannot jump or fly. Therefore, direct head-to-head contact is needed between the hairs of an infected person and a healthy host. Personal belongings like hair towels, combs, brushes, and even hats can also be a medium of transmission.
• Body lice – Body lice are also called clothing lice because they commonly cling to clothing and bedding rather than the hair shafts found on our skin. 
• These lice are also parasitic, so they feed on human blood. This type of lice only goes near the surface of our skin, if and only if, they are going to feed. Otherwise, they just stay in the seams of our clothing to lay eggs. 
• People who usually have an infestation of body lice do not regularly practice sanitation — if a person does not have access to a proper home, clean bedding and clothing, and regular bathing, then the chance of becoming infected with body lice increases. The average length of a body louse is 2.3-3.6 mm.
• Pubic lice – The appearance of this type of lice resembles a crab. That is why pubic lice are also called crab lice. 
• Pubic lice or crab lice are commonly seen in the pubic area of humans. These lice usually infest the genital area of humans, specifically pubic hair. 
• They are possibly spread through sexual contact with a person infected with pubic lice. These lice are also spread by sharing personal clothing like undergarments as well as body towels and bed linen. 
• The average length of a pubic louse is 1.1-1.8 mm.

TAXONOMY

• Lice belong to the kingdom Animalia and phylum Arthropoda.  These parasites are considered insects because they belong to the class Insecta. The louse is the common name for any member of the order Phthiraptera. This order includes chewing or biting lice and sucking lice. Lice that infest humans are sucking lice under the suborder Anoplura. Head lice and body lice belong to the Pediculidae family, while pubic lice are from the Pthiridae family.

LIFE CYCLE

• There are various stages in the life cycle of lice. They are first laid as eggs. Then they become a nymph and eventually develop into an adult. 
• The adult female louse will lay its eggs two days after a successful mating. Its eggs usually range from four to eight eggs.
• Eggs or Nits – Lice usually lay their eggs on the hair shaft or hair strands. The eggs are laid inside shells called nits. These are generally oval and have a grayish-white color that eventually turns brown. 
• The size of the egg or nit is about 0.3 – 0.8 mm, which is very tiny. It takes six to ten days before these eggs are hatched. The empty casing or shell will be left behind and will remain attached to the hair shaft.
• Nymph – After seven to 14 days, the eggs hatch into nymphs. These already look like adult louse but are smaller and have immature development.
• The size of the nymph is about 1 mm in length, which is comparable to the size of a pinhead.
• The nymph undergoes three molting stages wherein the skin will shed three times before becoming an adult. The first molting happens two days after hatching. The second molting occurs after five days after hatching. The third molting happens ten days after hatching.
• Adult – An adult male louse has a relatively shorter body length than an adult female louse. Mating can occur again when they are fully grown. The average life span of a louse is 32 to 35 days after being an egg or nit.

LICE INFESTATION EFFECTS

• The most familiar effect of lice infestation in humans is characterized by itchiness of the scalp and may also be experienced in the neck area and ears. Once infested, scratching is the most common response to get rid of the itchiness. This effect is most common in people who are allergic to lice saliva, making them more sensitive to lice bites and experiencing more itching.
• In some instances, some people are not allergic to the saliva of lice, which allows them to be more tolerant of lice bites causing them to feel less itching despite being infested.

Lice Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Lice across 30 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Lice which are parasitic insects commonly found on the parts of the human body like the head and pubic area.

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Complete List Of Included Worksheets

• Lice Facts 
• Truth or Lice
• Label the Louse
• Dice and Crawl
• Lice Picture
• Comparing Lice
• Lice to Lice
• Lice Cycle
• Wordle with Lice
• Puzzle-lice
• I ReaLICEd

Frequently Asked Questions

How does one get lice?

Since lice cannot jump nor fly, they cannot spread quickly. Thus, you can only get infected if the lice of an infected person crawl onto you or if lice from his or her belongings crawl toward your body.

What is the life cycle of lice?

There are various stages in the life cycle of lice. They are first laid as eggs. Then they become a nymph and eventually develop into an adult. The adult female louse will lay its eggs two days after a successful mating. Its eggs usually range from four to eight eggs. Eggs or Nits – Lice usually lay their eggs on the hair shaft or hair strands. The eggs are laid inside shells called nits. These are generally oval and have a grayish-white color that eventually turns brown.

What are the effects of lice bites?

The most familiar effect of lice infestation in humans is characterized by itchiness of the scalp and may also be experienced in the neck area and ears. Once infested, scratching is the most common response to get rid of the itchiness. This effect is most common in people who are allergic to lice saliva, making them more sensitive to lice bites and experiencing more itching.

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