Lice share which of the following characteristics?

• A. They are wingless.
• B. They are spread by direct contact.
• C. Their eggs are called nits.
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Lice are wingless parasites that live on the host’s skin and hair, feeding on blood. Because they have no wings, they cannot fly or leap between people; they crawl, so transmission relies on close contact. They are spread most commonly by direct contact, such as head-to-head contact or sharing items that touch the head or body. The eggs they lay are called nits; females cement the eggs to hair shafts near the scalp, where they stay until hatching. Putting these facts together, lice share all of these characteristics, so all of the above statements are true. In practical terms, preventing spread involves minimizing direct contact and avoiding sharing personal items, while treatment targets both the parasite and its eggs (nit removal).