"lice" as a collective noun.

Yeah, I this this is a pretty disgusting topic, but can you use "lice" as a collective noun? I've heard people say things like "lice doesn't float", with that use of "doesn't" suggesting that its becoming a collective noun.

That above should be, yeah, I know this is a disgusting topic.

<<I've heard people say things like "lice doesn't float", with that use of "doesn't" suggesting that its becoming a collective noun.>>

That usage sounds unnatural to me. I would use "lice" as a regular plural, just like "mice".

You would always say, "lice don't float", never "lice doesn't float". It's no more a collective noun than mice or children -- it's a plain old plural.