How many eggs does a bedbug lay at one time and how long does it take for them to hatch? - briefly
A female bedbug typically deposits 5–7 eggs in a single clutch, occasionally up to ten. Under normal indoor temperatures, the eggs hatch in roughly 6–10 days.
How many eggs does a bedbug lay at one time and how long does it take for them to hatch? - in detail
A female bed bug typically deposits a small cluster of eggs rather than a single one. She can lay between one and five eggs each day, and a single clutch usually contains five to ten eggs. Over her lifespan, which may last several months, a mature female is capable of producing roughly 200 – 500 eggs in total.
The embryonic development period is strongly influenced by ambient temperature. At a constant temperature of about 21 °C (70 °F) and moderate humidity, eggs hatch in 6 – 10 days. Cooler conditions lengthen the incubation: at 15 °C (59 °F) hatching may require up to 14 days, while temperatures above 27 °C (80 °F) can accelerate emergence to as few as 4 days, though extreme heat reduces viability.
Key points:
- Daily oviposition: 1–5 eggs
- Typical clutch size: 5–10 eggs
- Lifetime fecundity: ~200–500 eggs per female
- Incubation at 21 °C: 6–10 days
- Incubation at 15 °C: up to 14 days
- Incubation at ≥27 °C: as short as 4 days, with reduced hatch success at very high temperatures
Eggs are pale, oval, and about 1 mm long. They are laid on flat surfaces near refuge sites, often in cracks, seams, or the undersides of furniture. After hatching, the first-stage nymph begins feeding within a few days, initiating the next generation cycle.