Life cycle of a louse

Lice reproduce very quickly.

Female lice lay up to 10 eggs per day. The eggs, which look like dandruff, stick close to the scalp on the root of a hair. They are very difficult to remove.

The eggs hatch after 7 to 10 days.

These "baby lice" are called nymphs. After 7 to 10 days, nymphs become mature adults ready to lay eggs.

Lice live 2 to 3 months.

In that time, female lice lay 200 to 300 eggs.

Thanks to kind licence of Ernesto Bonifazi and of the European
Journal of Pediatric Dermatology and headlice.org.