Do lice jump?

Lice do not jump. They spread from person to person through close head contact or the sharing of articles of clothing or personal hair care items.

Adult lice have legs designed to grasp hair. They do not have wings, so they are unable to fly. Lice tend to remain in the hair unless there is a severe infestation, since they are unable to exist for more than two days without feeding on human blood.

Female lice lay their eggs on the hair shaft, gluing them in place. The eggs, known as nits, are small and immobile. They are generally found around the nape of the neck and behind the ears, close to the head for maximum warmth. As the hair grows out, hatched eggs may be found farther down the hair shaft.