How many larvae does a bedbug lay? - briefly
A female bedbug usually lays 1–5 eggs in each oviposition. Throughout its lifespan it can produce up to approximately 200 larvae.
How many larvae does a bedbug lay? - in detail
A female bed bug produces eggs, each of which hatches into a larva (first‑instar nymph). Egg‑laying begins after the first blood meal and continues throughout the adult’s lifespan.
- Typical daily output: 1–5 eggs per day, with an average of 2–3.
- Cumulative potential: 200–500 eggs per female under optimal conditions.
- Temperature influence: at 25 °C (77 °F) the daily rate reaches the upper end of the range; cooler environments reduce both daily and total output.
- Host availability: regular blood meals accelerate oviposition; prolonged starvation can halt egg production for weeks.
- Female age: peak laying occurs during the first two months of adulthood; output declines thereafter.
- Nutritional status: females with abundant blood meals lay more eggs than those with limited intake.
Egg incubation lasts 6–10 days, after which the hatchlings emerge as larvae. The number of larvae present in a population therefore reflects the cumulative egg production of all breeding females, moderated by mortality factors such as predation, sanitation practices, and chemical controls.