How many eggs does a single louse lay? - briefly
A female head louse typically deposits three to five eggs each day, reaching a total of around thirty eggs during her lifespan. This reproductive rate enables rapid population growth under favorable conditions.
How many eggs does a single louse lay? - in detail
Lice are obligate ectoparasites whose reproductive output is limited by body size and host environment. An adult female of the common human head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) typically produces between 3 and 5 eggs per day, accumulating 30 – 50 eggs over her lifespan of about 30 days. The body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus) exhibits a similar rate, laying roughly 4 eggs daily and reaching a total of 40 – 60 eggs before death.
Key factors influencing egg production:
- Temperature: Optimal range (30 °C – 33 °C) maximizes oviposition; lower temperatures reduce daily output.
- Host availability: Continuous blood meals sustain higher fecundity; interruptions cause a decline.
- Nutrition: Adequate blood intake correlates with consistent egg laying; malnutrition leads to fewer eggs.
- Age: Egg production peaks in the middle of the adult phase, declining as the female approaches senescence.
The egg‑laying cycle proceeds as follows: after mating, a female deposits an egg (nits) on the host’s hair shaft or clothing fiber, cementing it with a proteinaceous glue. The incubation period lasts 7 – 10 days, after which the nymph hatches and undergoes three molts before reaching adulthood. Because each female can generate dozens of offspring, a single infestation can expand rapidly if unchecked.