Where do moose lice overwinter? - briefly
Moose lice remain on their host throughout winter, inhabiting the dense fur and attached to the skin. They survive the cold by exploiting the insulating properties of the moose’s winter coat.
Where do moose lice overwinter? - in detail
Moose lice (subfamily Trichodectidae) remain on their host throughout the cold season. Adult females lay eggs on the hair shafts of the animal, and the developing nymphs stay attached to the same individual until emergence. Consequently, the winter refuge is the fur of the moose itself, primarily the dense coat on the neck, back, and hindquarters where microclimatic conditions are most stable.
Key aspects of overwintering biology:
- Microhabitat selection – lice preferentially occupy areas with thicker hair and lower exposure to wind, reducing desiccation risk.
- Thermal buffering – the insulating layer of fur maintains temperatures above the lethal threshold for the ectoparasite, even when ambient air drops well below freezing.
- Host behavior – moose reduce movement and seek sheltered stands of coniferous forest, indirectly providing a more constant environment for the parasites.
- Life‑stage persistence – eggs (nits) remain viable for several weeks; hatching occurs when ambient temperature rises in early spring, synchronizing with the host’s seasonal molt.
Research indicates that lice do not migrate off the host to seek external shelters such as snow burrows or leaf litter. Instead, they exploit the host’s own thermoregulatory adaptations. Studies by «Anderson & Riehm, 2018» demonstrate that lice density peaks in late autumn, declines during the spring molt, and then stabilizes as new generations mature.
In summary, the winter habitat of moose lice is the animal’s own pelage, where microclimatic stability, protection from desiccation, and host behavior collectively ensure survival until favorable conditions return.