How many eggs does a bedbug lay per day? - briefly
A female Cimex lectularius usually deposits between one and five eggs each day, accumulating up to about 200 eggs over her lifespan. Egg production peaks during warm months when blood meals are frequent.
How many eggs does a bedbug lay per day? - in detail
Female Cimex lectularius typically deposit between 1 and 5 eggs each day after a blood meal, with the average output of 2–3 eggs per 24‑hour period. The total number of eggs laid over a lifetime ranges from 200 to 500, depending on environmental conditions and host availability.
Key factors influencing daily oviposition:
- Blood‑meal frequency – each successful feeding triggers a new egg‑laying cycle.
- Temperature – optimal temperatures (25‑30 °C) accelerate metabolism and increase daily egg count; lower temperatures reduce output.
- Female age – peak production occurs during the first two weeks after emergence; older females lay fewer eggs.
- Nutrient quality – larger blood volumes provide more resources for egg formation.
Egg development time also varies with temperature: at 27 °C, embryogenesis completes in 6–10 days, while at 20 °C it may extend to 14–18 days. The female continues to lay eggs until she dies, usually after 2–3 months of adult life under favorable conditions.
In summary, a well‑fed adult female bed bug produces roughly 2–3 eggs per day, with total reproductive output governed by feeding frequency, ambient temperature, age, and nutritional status.