Anoplura and have long been associated with people. Archaeologists have even found louse combs buried with Egyptian mummies, who were apparently anticipating head lice in the afterlife. The head louse feeds on human blood several times daily and resides close to the scalp to maintain its body temperature. Lice can be transmitted by contaminated items, such as hats, combs, sports equipment, and pillowcases. They may also remain on bedding or upholstered furniture for a brief period, although they will live for only 48 hours once they fall off the host's head.
Nits are small, oval-shaped, yellowish eggs.
Often they are difficult to see and can be confused with dandruff or droplets of hair spray. After one week the nits hatch into nymphs, baby lice. Nymphs look like small adult lice, but are only about the size of a pinhead. They mature after seven to 14 days of feeding on blood. About the size of a sesame seed, the adult louse can be seen with the naked eye.