Where are pubic lice bred? - briefly
Pubic lice (Pthirus pubis) breed directly on the host’s coarse body hair, most commonly in the genital area but also in armpits, chest, or facial hair. Females deposit nits onto hair shafts, where the eggs hatch and the nymphs mature.
Where are pubic lice bred? - in detail
Pubic lice (Pthirus pubis) reproduce exclusively on human hosts. The female deposits eggs, called nits, attached to the coarse hair of the genital region, as well as to axillary, facial, chest, and abdominal hair. Each nit is cemented close to the hair shaft, where the temperature remains around 32‑35 °C and humidity is high—conditions optimal for embryonic development.
The incubation period lasts 6‑9 days, after which the nymph hatches and begins feeding on blood. Nymphal stages progress through three molts over 9‑12 days before reaching adulthood. Adult lice remain on the host for several weeks, continuously laying eggs and sustaining the colony.
Transmission occurs through direct, prolonged skin‑to‑skin contact, most commonly during sexual activity. Indirect transfer via contaminated clothing, bedding, or towels is rare because lice cannot survive more than 24‑48 hours without a host. Consequently, the breeding environment is confined to the body’s warm, moist hair zones where the parasite can feed and reproduce without interruption.
Key factors supporting lice proliferation:
- Temperature: 32‑35 °C maintains metabolic activity.
- Humidity: 70‑80 % prevents desiccation of eggs and nymphs.
- Hair density: Coarse, pigmented hair provides attachment sites for nits.
Elimination requires removal of all live insects and nits from the affected hair, combined with topical pediculicidal agents that disrupt the reproductive cycle. Without consistent treatment, the colony can re‑establish within the same host environment.