Today, we'll find out what lice eat for growth, reproduction, health, and good condition.
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Lice eat a diet that consists of human blood to survive. The most prevalent of all is the head lice. Infestation with head lice in the United States is common with the pre-school children together with their households. Head lice live on the human scalp and feed right on the head.
Head lice attach themselves to hair strands using their hook-like claws. They then climb down to the scalp, where they will move around in search of a blood vessel to pierce. Once they find a suitable vein, head lice pierce the skin using their mouth and begin to suck the blood.
Lice are attracted to the blood and warmth that they will get from humans. Body lice is often a sign of unclean beddings and clothes. Unlike body lice, a head lice infestation is not a sign of poor hygiene.
Lice suck on human blood 4 to 5 times a day. They also feed during the night. Based on a study published in the International Journal of Dermatology, an adult female louse drinks around 0.0001579 ml of blood per single feed. The adult male louse takes about 0.0000657 ml of blood, while the nymph consumes up to 0.0000387 ml of blood in a single feed.