Why do lice live in our hair?

Lice:

• Lice are also known as head louse.
• The scientific name for head louse is “pediculus humanus capitis”.
• Lice belongs to the kingdom Animalia and phylum Arthropoda.
• Lice come under the class Insecta and family Pediculidae.
• Head lice are the wingless animals known for spending their whole life on the human head.
• They depend on their host for fulfilling their needs.
• Head lice are basically known as disease free as compared to body lice. They do not transmit any major disease and are safe from infections.
• The external structure of lice is just like any other insect with a very small head ranging from 2.5 to 3 mm long. They are known to have a dorsoventrally flat body with no wing like structure present.
• In general, head lice are grey in color, but their color can be changed on the place they were raised. There can also be change in body color once they consume human blood.

Why do lice live in our head?

• Head lice are known for their habit of spending their entire life on human scalp.
• They live on the human scalp and feed on the human blood throughout their life course.
• Head lice need any host to survive, along with that they can not fly and can not even live for longer amount of time in water away from their host.
• Human head also proves as a great place for lice to habitat over there.
• Due to all these reasons, head lice are known to live in our head.

Fun Facts:

1. It is estimated that head lice liven from a very old times, based on the mummies found with the evidence of lice it is estimated.
2. Lice from one person can transfer to another by the most basic contact of head to head, they can not jump or hop around in anyone’s head.
3. New lice are born with the eggs laid on the shaft of hair.

Related Questions:

1. Explain anatomical functions of lice.
2. How do a louse live on our head?
3. Explain some other species of lice hosting on some other animal.

True or False:

1. Lice are known to live their life with no host.
2. Lice are known to live on the finger of human body.
3. Lice do not suck blood.
4. Lice can eat and drink food for their survival.
5. Lice are known to live off their whole life on the human scalp.

Objective Quiz:

1. Lice belong to the _______.
   1. Kingdom Animalia.
   2. Kingdom Plantae.
   3. Kingdom Arthropoda.
   4. None of the above.
2. Lice are known to live on ______.
   1. Human scalp.
   2. Snake scalp.
   3. Ant body.
   4. Elephant body.
3. Lice are known to have _______.
   1. No wings.
   2. A pair of wings.
   3. Multiple wings.
   4. None of the above.
4. Lice feed on the _______.
   1. Human blood.
   2. Animal blood.
   3. Marine water.
   4. None of the above.
5. The head of lice ranges from _______.
   1. 1.5 to 3 mm.
   2. 2.5 to 3 mm.
   3. 1.4  to 3 mm.
   4. 2.4  to 3 mm.