How often do bedbugs lay eggs? - briefly
Female bedbugs typically deposit a batch of 1‑5 eggs every 5‑10 days, with timing influenced by ambient temperature. A single adult can produce several hundred eggs over her reproductive life.
How often do bedbugs lay eggs? - in detail
Bedbugs reproduce by laying eggs after each successful blood meal. A fertilized female typically deposits between one and five eggs daily, with the exact number depending on ambient temperature, host availability, and her physiological condition. Over her lifespan—usually three to four months—a single female can produce roughly 200 to 500 eggs.
The timing of oviposition follows a predictable pattern:
- Post‑feeding interval: Egg laying begins 2–3 days after a blood meal, when the female’s abdomen is engorged.
- Daily output: 1–5 eggs per day, averaging 2–3 under moderate conditions (22–26 °C, 70–80 % relative humidity).
- Cumulative total: 200–500 eggs per female, assuming continuous access to hosts and optimal environmental parameters.
Environmental factors that accelerate or retard egg production include:
- Temperature: Above 25 °C, metabolic rates increase, shortening the interval between meals and raising daily egg output. Below 15 °C, activity slows, and oviposition may cease until conditions improve.
- Humidity: Relative humidity above 60 % supports egg viability; low humidity can reduce the number of eggs laid and increase mortality.
- Host frequency: Frequent blood meals provide the nutrients required for sustained egg production; prolonged periods without feeding markedly decrease laying rates.
Egg development lasts 6–10 days, after which nymphs emerge and begin feeding within 24 hours. The rapid turnover from egg to feeding nymph enables infestations to expand quickly when conditions remain favorable.