How long do deer lice live on a person? - briefly
Deer lice can cling to a human for only a brief period, typically surviving no more than one to two days before they die or detach. Their lifespan off a suitable host is limited to about 24–48 hours.
How long do deer lice live on a person? - in detail
Deer keds (Lipoptena cervi) are obligate ectoparasites of cervids that occasionally attach to people when they wander into infested habitats. The insect lands, sheds its wings, and inserts a proboscis to draw blood.
After attachment the adult feeds continuously. On a human host the feeding period lasts between one and three days in most cases; occasional reports note survival up to five days before the parasite disengages. Once the blood meal is complete, the ked drops off the skin and falls to the ground, where it seeks a suitable environment for oviposition.
Key points on the duration of survival on a human:
- Initial attachment: immediate upon contact.
- Active feeding: 24–72 hours for the majority of individuals.
- Maximum retention: rarely exceeds 120 hours.
- Post‑feeding stage: the insect leaves the host and dies within a few weeks if environmental conditions are unfavorable.
After detachment the keds can persist in leaf litter or soil for several weeks, protected by moisture and cool temperatures. They do not reproduce on humans; egg laying occurs only after the parasite returns to a deer host. Survival time is shortened by high temperatures, low humidity, and mechanical removal (e.g., brushing or washing).
In summary, the parasite remains viable on a person for a maximum of about five days, after which it abandons the host and eventually perishes unless it reaches a suitable cervid environment.