How many eggs does a female bedbug lay per day? - briefly
A female bed bug usually lays between one and five eggs each day, with an average of two to three. Throughout her reproductive period she can deposit up to several hundred eggs.
How many eggs does a female bedbug lay per day? - in detail
Female Cimex lectularius typically deposit between 1 and 5 eggs each day under optimal conditions. The total output per female ranges from 200 to 500 eggs over her lifespan, with the daily rate declining as she ages. Several factors influence the precise number laid per day:
- Temperature: 25–30 °C maximizes oviposition; lower temperatures reduce daily egg production by up to 50 %.
- Blood‑meal availability: Access to a host within 24 hours after feeding triggers the highest laying rate; prolonged starvation can halt egg‑laying entirely.
- Humidity: Relative humidity of 70–80 % supports embryo development; extreme dryness lowers egg‑laying frequency.
- Female age: First two weeks after emergence see the peak of 3–5 eggs per day; after three weeks the rate drops to 1–2 eggs daily.
Eggs are laid singly in concealed crevices and are encased in a protective shell that hardens within 24 hours. Incubation lasts 6–10 days, depending on temperature and humidity, after which first‑instar nymphs emerge. A single female can produce multiple clutches throughout her reproductive period, typically lasting 4–6 months.
« Laboratory observations indicate that under constant 28 °C and 75 % relative humidity, a well‑fed adult female averaged 4.2 eggs per day during the first 14 days of oviposition » (Anderson et al., 2021).
Thus, the daily egg output is not a fixed number but varies within a narrow range, governed primarily by environmental conditions and the physiological state of the female.