Income level is not a factor in infestation. If one family member is infested with head lice, the risk of infestation for the rest of the family is greater. Usually Caucasians have more problems with head lice due to the shape of the individual hair shaft. Adults do not fly or jump from one person to another. Female head lice lay 50 to 150 eggs.
Nits are shiny white and are about half the size of a pinhead.
Temperature and humidity during the incubation period can greatly affect development time and survival. Temperatures between 75 and 98.6 F are optimum for head lice. Head lice cannot live away from a host for more than 48 hours. When infestations are low, head lice are usually found in the hair above the ears and on the back of the scalp. With higher populations, they may be found on other parts of the head including the entire scalp and eyelashes.