How many bedbugs hatch from one egg? - briefly
A single egg produces one bedbug nymph; each egg hatches into exactly one individual.
How many bedbugs hatch from one egg? - in detail
A single egg of the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) produces one nymph. The egg is a tiny, oval capsule about 0.5 mm in length, containing a single embryo that develops until hatching.
The incubation period varies with environmental conditions. At 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) and relative humidity of 70–80 %, hatching occurs in 6–10 days. Cooler temperatures (15 °C/59 °F) extend development to 2–3 weeks, while temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) can shorten the period to 4–5 days but increase mortality.
Survival of the egg depends on several factors:
- Temperature: optimal range 24–27 °C; extremes reduce hatch rates.
- Humidity: 70–80 % prevents desiccation; lower levels cause egg collapse.
- Surface: smooth, protected crevices shield eggs from disturbances.
- Maternal care: females embed eggs in a cohesive matrix that reduces predation and dehydration.
Under ideal laboratory conditions, hatch rates exceed 95 %. In field settings, rates typically fall between 70 % and 90 % due to fluctuations in climate and accidental removal of eggs during cleaning.
Therefore, each oviposition results in one emerging nymph, with the proportion that successfully hatch determined by the above environmental and biological variables.