Simply washing clothes regularly can reduce their abundance. The eggs of lice are called nits. They are light tan colored, oval cylinders. The eggs of head lice are glued to hairs of the head. The favorite areas seem to be near the ears and back of the head.
Body lice glue their eggs to clothing, especially near seams and creases.
Under normal conditions the eggs will hatch in about a week. Below 74 degrees F, most eggs will not hatch. Newly hatched nymphs must feed within 24 hours or die. There are three immature nymphal stages separated by molts. Their appearance and habits are not greatly different from those of adults.