What is the lifecycle of a louse?
What is the lifecycle of a louse?
Blog Article
The lifecycle of a louse consists of three main stages:
- Egg Stage (Nit): Lice eggs, or nits, are laid by adult female lice close to the scalp. They are oval-shaped, yellowish or white, and firmly attached to hair strands. Nits typically hatch within 7-10 days. They are often mistaken for black lice in hair dandruff but cannot be easily brushed off.
- Nymph Stage: After hatching, nymphs emerge from the eggs. Nymphs are immature lice that look similar to adults but are smaller. They begin to feed on blood almost immediately and will mature within about 7-10 days.
- Adult Stage: Adult lice are approximately the size of a sesame seed, have six legs, and can be grayish or tan. Female lice can lay up to 6-10 eggs per day. Adult lice typically live for about 30 days on a human host and must feed on blood regularly to survive.
The complete lifecycle from egg to adult louse takes about 2-3 weeks. Understanding this lifecycle is important for effectively treating infestations, as treatments need to target lice at different stages to be successful. Report this page