Louse Life Cycle

Both sucking and chewing lice have similar life cycles. The females lay eggs, which are usually white. 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 digestive keratin, so can eat feathers.

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.

After three further moults the adults usually fully mature.

A heavy louse infestation is known as pediculosis.

The complete life cycle takes around 2-3 weeks, and the louse generally spend their entire life on the host.

In some species parthenogenesis can occur.

1. Eggs

• Known as nits

• Cemented to hairs

2. Nymphs

• Nymphs hatch from the egg (no larval stage)

• Undergoes several moults

3. Adults

• Females can lay up to 10 eggs per day