At Genie Pest Control, we understand that you want to keep lice out of your home. As with most pests, prevention is always better than cure, but you simply can’t catch everything. With that said, understanding a little more about the most common species of lice and how to identify them will allow you to know when action needs to be taken to remove lice from your home, and you’re your property free of lice.
The three most common types of lice are head lice, body lice, and crab lice. You can take steps to prevent contact with lice by simply avoiding using other people’s hats, combs, towels, and anything else that may be contaminated with these little bugs. If there is a known break out in your local school or sports club, you should have your scalp and your family’s scalp inspected to ensure you have not been exposed. Body lice are the only type of lice that can transmit diseases to humans, so it is important to be particularly vigilant in your efforts to detect these pests. Let’s take a look at how our team of pest control experts at Genie Pest Control recommends identifying each type of lice.
Identifying Head Lice
Lice eggs, also known as nits, are the most obvious indicator that you might have contracted head lice. Head lice lay a significantly larger number of eggs than other types of lice. The good news is that these eggs are not active and can are relatively easy to remove. An itchy scalp can be another telltale sign that you have been exposed to head lice, and our team at Genie Pest Control recommends that, in this instance, you should take steps to investigate further. Infestations are more common in younger children, particularly at school.
Identifying Body Lice
If your home is cold or not well-insulated, you might be at a higher risk of contracting body lice. If you need to wear several layers of clothing due to the cold, this can increase your risk of exposure to body lice. The primary method of identifying body lice is simply to observe the outside of your clothing to detect the presence of lice. It’s important to know that body lice are declining and are not seen as often as it once was.
Identifying Crab Lice
Just as is the case with head lice, the most common sign that crab lice are present is by identifying the presence of eggs or nits. You may also experience irritation or discomfort from the presence of crab lice, which may cause you to be itchy. One final giveaway that you might have lice is the appearance of small blue dots that develop near the feeding sites. These blue dots are often accompanied by tenderness and swelling. Keep an eye out for these symptoms, and you will be able to treat the lice as soon as you have identified its presence.
Eliminate Lice From Your Home With Expert Help
At Genie Pest Control, our pest control experts can help you to rid your home of lice. The first step in getting rid of lice from your home is being able to identify the issue in the first place. If you recognize the presence of hair lice, body lice or crab lice in your home, be sure to get in touch with our team at Genie Pest Control as soon as possible. With the help of our lice removal experts, you can be sure that your home will be free of lice and back to normal in no time.