7 Horrible Truths About Lice

What are the eggs laid by female lice called?

• Larvae

• Nymphs

• Nits

• Pupae

What is the primary way lice find and stay on a host?

• They fly from one host to another.

• They jump long distances between hosts.

• They are wingless and rely on direct contact.

• They burrow deep into the host's skin.

Which type of human-infesting louse is known to transmit dangerous diseases like typhus and trench fever?

• Head lice

• Pubic lice

• Body lice

• Hair lice

What is a proposed theory for why head lice might be beneficial to humans?

• They help clean the scalp by eating dead skin cells.

• They can provide immunity against more dangerous body lice.

• They encourage humans to groom more frequently.

• They help regulate body temperature.

What scientific evidence suggests that early humans started wearing clothes around 170,000 years ago?

• The discovery of ancient fabric samples from that period.

• Changes in the fossil record showing a decrease in body hair.

• Genetic analysis showing head lice and body lice diverged around that time.

• Archaeological findings of sewing needles and tools for making clothes.

What does the genetic similarity between human pubic lice and gorilla pubic lice suggest about early human ancestors?

• Early humans and gorillas shared a common ancestor that had pubic lice.

• Early humans and gorillas lived in close proximity, allowing lice to transfer between species.

• Gorillas evolved from early human ancestors who had pubic lice.

• Pubic lice originated in gorillas and then evolved to infest humans.

How can studying the genetics of lice help scientists understand human migration patterns?

• Lice DNA directly shows the routes humans took across continents.

• Different types of lice are found only in specific geographic regions.

• Lice evolve and spread with their human hosts, leaving a genetic trail that mirrors human movement.

• Lice can only survive in certain climates, indicating where humans traveled.

Why have some lice treatments, like pyrethroids, become less effective over time?

• Lice have learned to avoid the treated areas of the scalp.

• The chemicals in the treatments have become weaker due to expiration.

• Lice have developed genetic mutations that make them resistant to the treatments.

• Humans are not applying the treatments correctly, allowing lice to survive.