How many nits does a louse lay? - briefly
A female head louse typically deposits 6–10 nits per day, accumulating about 30–40 eggs over her lifespan.
How many nits does a louse lay? - in detail
A female head louse typically produces 6‑10 eggs per day, reaching a total of 50‑150 eggs during her adult lifespan of about 30 days. Egg production peaks during the first two weeks after the adult emerges, then declines as the insect ages.
Body lice exhibit a similar reproductive capacity, laying approximately 5‑7 eggs daily and accumulating 100‑150 eggs over a month-long adult phase. Pubic lice generate fewer eggs, averaging 3‑4 per day and totaling around 30‑40 eggs before death.
Key factors influencing egg output:
- Temperature: optimal range 30‑32 °C accelerates development and increases daily egg count.
- Host hygiene: frequent washing reduces available habitat, limiting reproductive success.
- Nutrition: blood availability directly affects female fecundity.
The life cycle proceeds as follows:
- Egg (nit) incubation: 7‑10 days.
- Nymphal stages: three molts over 9‑12 days.
- Adult stage: up to 30 days, during which egg laying occurs.
Eggs are firmly attached to hair shafts near the scalp, making manual removal difficult. Effective control requires eliminating both live insects and their eggs within a two‑week window to prevent reinfestation.