Exactly how do bedbugs reproduce? - briefly
After a male mounts the female and deposits sperm into her reproductive tract, the female stores it in a spermatheca. She then lays 1–5 eggs daily in concealed crevices, and the eggs hatch in about five to ten days.
Exactly how do bedbugs reproduce? - in detail
Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) reproduce through a series of distinct physiological and behavioral steps that occur entirely on the host or in the immediate environment.
Mating begins when a mature female releases a cuticular pheromone that attracts a male. The male detects the signal with his antennae, approaches the female, and initiates the “traumatic insemination” process. During this act, the male pierces the female’s dorsal abdominal wall with a specialized intromittent organ called the paramere. Sperm is injected directly into the hemocoel, bypassing the conventional reproductive tract.
Once inside the hemocoel, sperm travels to a storage organ known as the spermatheca. The female can retain viable sperm for several months, allowing multiple oviposition cycles without further mating. Fertilization occurs when stored sperm contacts developing oocytes in the ovaries.
Egg production proceeds as follows:
- Females lay 1–5 eggs per day, typically in concealed crevices near the host’s sleeping area.
- Each egg measures about 1 mm in length and is encased in a thin, translucent chorion.
- Incubation lasts 6–10 days at 22–25 °C; lower temperatures extend the period, while higher temperatures accelerate development.
- After hatching, nymphs undergo five instars, each requiring a blood meal before molting. The complete life cycle from egg to reproductive adult can be completed in 4–6 weeks under optimal conditions.
Bedbug populations can increase rapidly because females are capable of multiple matings, and stored sperm ensures continuous egg production even in the absence of males. No parental care is provided; juveniles are independent immediately after their first blood meal. Temperature, host availability, and crowding influence fecundity, with optimal conditions yielding up to 500 eggs per female over her lifespan.