They are about the size of a sesame seed, have 6 legs and range from tan to greyish white in colour. They live up to 30 days and cannot survive for more than 2 days away from the human scalp.
Nits are the eggs of the head lice.
They look like small, whitish specks about the size of a pinhead and are glued to the hair shaft. Nits are first laid very close to the scalp, and then grow out with the hair. Nits hatch within 7 to 10 days and mature into adult lice in about 7 days. They hang on to the hair with hook like claws at the end of each leg. Nits are usually found on the hair shaft at the nape of the neck, under the fringe and behind the ears.