How long do lice live underwater? - briefly
When fully immersed, lice survive only a few minutes, usually dying within three to five minutes. Extended submersion beyond that period leads to rapid mortality.
How long do lice live underwater? - in detail
Lice are terrestrial ectoparasites that breathe through spiracles, tiny openings on their exoskeleton. When submerged, water blocks these openings, preventing gas exchange. As a result, the insects experience rapid oxygen deprivation.
- Within seconds, the spiracles fill with water, cutting off respiration.
- After approximately 30 seconds to 2 minutes, most individuals become immobile.
- Complete mortality occurs by the end of the first minute for the majority of species; a few robust specimens may survive up to 5 minutes before irreversible damage sets in.
The exact duration varies among species. Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) and body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis) exhibit similar tolerance, while crab lice (Pthirus pubis) are slightly less resistant due to smaller body size. Environmental factors such as temperature and water purity can modestly extend survival time, but even in optimal conditions the limit does not exceed a few minutes.
Because lice lack adaptations for aquatic life—no gills, no plastron, and no cuticular modifications for water retention—they cannot sustain prolonged submersion. Once removed from water, any surviving individuals recover only if spiracles are cleared before tissue damage becomes irreversible; otherwise, death is permanent.