Lice Life Cycle
The lice life cycle evolves in just three (3) stages. It started as with nits; which are the eggs of the lice, followed by three (3) nymph cycles before it reaches its mature stage.
Lice life cycle mortality is very high in captivity. Usually around thirty eight percent (38%) within the critical first two (2) days of its life.
1. Nits
The female lice are bigger than the male and it is the most common. It lays their eggs called nits which appear in yellowish white or sometimes appear like dandruff. Lice lay their eggs to hair strands using their saliva. The saliva glues the eggs to the hair strands making it bond and difficult to remove by ordinary means. Female lice lays five (5) to seven (7) eggs a day and it is hatched a week after.
2. Nymph
Head lice has three (3) development stages before they reach their mature stage (imago). Their development varies depending on its feeding conditions. A head lice requires a minimum of eight (8) to nine (9) days with continuous access to feeding for it to achieve its imago stage. Otherwise if there is a limitation on the access of its food, head lice development is lengthened to twelve (12) up to twenty four (24) days to reach its maturity.
3. Imago ( Mature Stage )
The only difference from a nymph and the Imago or Mature lice aside from its size is its abdomen. It continuously increase every period. Once the head lice reach its mature age, it is ready to reproduce. Usually, head lice can live up to thirty (30) days in a human host and can lay to more than 200 eggs or nits.
Though the lice life cycle is very short, the huge amount of eggs it lays makes them reproduce in great proportions and in short amount of time. On this note, an infested human can generally have thousands of living lice in him/her.
If you are experiencing symptoms of head lice like feeling itchiness in your head or seen some nits or lice in your body, do not hesitate to take the next precautionary measures. There are multiple remedies and even you can even find lice treatment at home.
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