What do lice live on? - briefly
Lice are obligate blood‑sucking parasites that inhabit the hair, scalp, or feathers of their hosts. Human head lice reside on the scalp, body lice live in clothing, and bird lice occupy feathered areas.
What do lice live on? - in detail
Lice are obligate ectoparasites that depend on the blood of warm‑blooded vertebrates. Each species is adapted to a particular host and to a specific region of the host’s body.
The most common groups are:
- Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) – inhabit the scalp, clinging to hair shafts and feeding on scalp blood.
- Body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis) – reside in the seams of clothing, moving to the skin only to take blood meals.
- Pubic lice (Pthirus pubis) – prefer coarse hair in the genital area, also found on chest, armpits, facial hair.
- Animal lice – include species such as Myrsidea on birds, Haematopinus on pigs, and Linognathus on cattle; each occupies the fur or feathers of its respective host.
Key factors that determine where lice can survive:
- Temperature – optimal range is 30–35 °C; temperatures outside this window reduce reproductive success.
- Humidity – relative humidity of 70–80 % supports egg viability; low humidity desiccates nymphs.
- Skin accessibility – smooth, hairless skin offers fewer attachment points; lice favor areas with hair or feathers for anchorage.
- Blood availability – continuous access to capillary blood is essential for egg production; interruptions cause population decline.
Life cycle stages (egg, nymph, adult) all require the host’s surface. Eggs (nits) are cemented to hair shafts or feathers, where they remain protected from environmental fluctuations. Nymphs emerge and immediately begin feeding, completing development within 7–10 days under favorable conditions.
Control measures target these dependencies: raising ambient temperature, reducing humidity, and removing the host’s clothing or hair shafts eliminate the microenvironment required for survival.