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*The whole life cycle takes '''2-3 weeks'''
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*The louse spends its whole life on the animal
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Both [[:Category:Sucking Lice|sucking]] and [[:Category:Chewing Lice|chewing lice]] have similar life cycles.  The females lay eggs, which are usually white.  The female is capable of producing several hundred eggs in a lifetime.  These stick to the hair or feathers on the host.    Sucking lice feed on blood using their piercing mouth parts.  Mammalian chewing lice feed on hair shafts or dermis.  The bird lice are also capable of digesting keratin, so can eat feathers.
**It can however survive for one week off the animal
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*In some species [[WikiWords#P|parthenogenesis]] can occur
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There is no real metamorphosis.  The egg hatches into a nymph, which is essentially a juvenile louse.  They are similar to adults, except just smaller.
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*Close contact transmission can occur
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After three further moults the adults usually fully mature. 
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'''1. Eggs'''
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A heavy louse infestation is known as [[Pediculosis|pediculosis]].
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*Known as nits
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The complete life cycle takes around '''2-3 weeks''', and the louse generally spend their entire life on the host.
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*Cemented to hairs
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In some species [[WikiWords#P|parthenogenesis]] may also occur.
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'''2. Nymphs'''
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{{Learning
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|flashcards = [[Lice_Flashcards|Lice Flashcards]]
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|literature search =[http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=%28title%3A%28lice%29+OR+title%3A%28louse%29%29+AND+title%3A%28%22life+cycle%22%29 Louse life cycle publications]
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}}
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*Nymphs hatch from the egg (no larval stage)
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==References==
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*Undergoes several moults
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Taylor, M.A, Coop, R.L., Wall,R.L. (2007) '''Veterinary Parasitology''' ''Blackwell Publishing''
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'''3. Adults'''
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*Females can lay up to '''10 eggs per day'''
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{{review}}
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[[Category:Lice]]
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[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]
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[[Category:Lice|B]]
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[[Category:Expert_Review]]
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