Saturday, May 22, 2010

How long is the lifespan of a louse on a sheep, does it vary during the year?


Answers:
The female louse lives for about 30 days and lays 10-20 eggs during this time. Eggs are laid close to the skin surface and are attached to a wool fibre. These hatch in 9-10 days (approximately equal numbers of males and females) and then pass through three nymphal stages during the next 21 days. The adults mature 3-4 days later. The life cycle from egg to egg is completed in 34-36 days.

The eggs develop and hatch in a temperature range of 33-39掳C. Hatching is not affected by low humidity but exposure to humidity levels above 92 per cent during the last 24 hours of development prevents hatching.

Lice populations are primarily influenced by the time of shearing, but can also follow a seasonal pattern. Numbers often decline during spring, remain low through summer and increase in autumn and winter. Apart from shearing, higher temperatures and an increase in rainfall are the main factors responsible for depressing lice numbers over the summer months. Lice control is much easier with a summer shearing.
Depends on how long before shearing season.
Don't know. How old are you so far?
why? you thinking of breeding some?

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