When do lice become sexually mature? - briefly
«Sexual maturity is reached approximately four to five days after hatching.» Females start laying eggs within a day of attaining reproductive capability.
When do lice become sexually mature? - in detail
Lice reach reproductive capability shortly after completing their final nymphal stage. The life cycle consists of egg, three successive nymphal instars, and adult. Molting from the third instar to the adult marks the onset of sexual maturity.
Temperature strongly influences the timing. Under optimal laboratory conditions (≈30 °C, 70 % relative humidity), the interval from egg to mature adult averages 8–10 days. At typical indoor temperatures (≈20 °C), development extends to 12–14 days. Males generally mature 12–24 hours before females, allowing early mating once the first adult emerges.
Key points of the developmental timeline:
- Egg incubation: 6–9 days, depending on temperature.
- First instar: ≈1 day.
- Second instar: ≈1 day.
- Third instar: ≈1–2 days.
- Adult emergence: occurs after the third molt; sexual readiness follows within 24 hours for males and 48 hours for females.
- First oviposition: females begin laying eggs approximately 2 days after attaining maturity, producing 4–6 eggs per day.
Adult lice live 20–30 days on the host, with continuous egg production throughout most of this period. The precise age of reproductive competence may vary among species (head louse Pediculus humanus capitis versus body louse Pediculus humanus humanus), but the general pattern—completion of the third instar followed by a brief maturation interval—remains consistent.