How many eggs can a single louse lay? - briefly
A head louse typically deposits five to six eggs per oviposition, reaching roughly ten eggs over its lifespan. Eggs hatch in seven to ten days under suitable conditions.
How many eggs can a single louse lay? - in detail
An adult head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) typically produces 3–5 eggs per day. Egg laying continues for about 30 days, the average adult lifespan, resulting in a total of 90–150 nits per individual. Egg output peaks during the first two weeks after the adult emerges, then declines as the insect ages.
Key factors influencing fecundity:
- Temperature: optimal range 28–32 °C accelerates development and increases daily oviposition. - Host availability: frequent blood meals sustain higher reproductive rates. - Sexual maturity: females become fertile approximately 5 days after molting from the third nymphal stage.
Body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus) display a similar reproductive pattern, laying 4–6 eggs daily and reaching a cumulative total of 120–180 eggs over a lifespan of 30–40 days. Their eggs are deposited on clothing fibers rather than directly on the host’s hair.
Egg incubation lasts 7–10 days at standard indoor temperatures. Upon hatching, the nymph undergoes three molts before reaching adulthood, each stage requiring roughly 2–3 days. Consequently, a single female can generate multiple generations within a month if environmental conditions remain favorable.