Which statement about lice eggs is true?

Which statement about lice eggs is true?

• A. They are called nits
• B. They are called eggs
• C. They are called cocoons
• D. They are called larvae

Answer: (A)

Lice eggs are referred to as nits. The term nit is the standard way to describe a louse egg that’s cemented to a hair shaft near the scalp. This distinguishes the egg stage from later stages: after hatching, the immature insect becomes a nymph, not a larva, so calling the egg a larva would be incorrect. Cocoons are not part of the lice life cycle, so they don’t apply here. In short, the true statement is that they are called nits.

Lice eggs are referred to as nits. The term nit is the standard way to describe a louse egg that’s cemented to a hair shaft near the scalp. This distinguishes the egg stage from later stages: after hatching, the immature insect becomes a nymph, not a larva, so calling the egg a larva would be incorrect. Cocoons are not part of the lice life cycle, so they don’t apply here. In short, the true statement is that they are called nits.