When do clothing lice bite? - briefly
Clothing lice usually bite during daylight hours when the host is moving, preferring warm and humid environments. They feed for a short period before returning to seams or folds of the garment.
When do clothing lice bite? - in detail
Clothing lice, also known as body lice, bite only when they need a blood meal to develop eggs. The feeding cycle follows a predictable pattern:
- Nighttime activity – lice emerge from the seams of garments after the host falls asleep, when body temperature and carbon‑dioxide levels rise.
- Feeding duration – each bite lasts 5–10 minutes, during which the insect inserts its proboscis, injects saliva containing anticoagulants, and ingests blood.
- Frequency – a single adult louse requires a blood meal every 2–3 days. If the host remains untreated, the insect will bite repeatedly at this interval.
- Environmental triggers – high humidity and warm ambient temperatures accelerate metabolism, shortening the interval between meals.
The bite itself is painless at first; itching appears later as a reaction to the saliva. Repeated feeding can lead to skin irritation, secondary bacterial infection, or transmission of pathogens such as Rickettsia prowazekii.
Control measures focus on eliminating the insects from clothing and bedding, washing items at ≥60 °C, and maintaining personal hygiene to reduce the opportunity for lice to feed.