How quickly do lice lay eggs? - briefly
Female head lice start laying eggs within 24–48 hours after mating, depositing roughly three to five eggs each day. The entire development from egg to adult requires about 7–10 days.
How quickly do lice lay eggs? - in detail
Lice reproduce by laying eggs, commonly called nits, on hair shafts or body hair. The female embeds each egg in a cement‑like substance that secures it close to the skin. Oviposition begins a few days after the adult emerges from the last nymphal stage.
The rate of egg deposition varies among species:
- Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis): one egg approximately every 30–40 minutes; a mature female can produce 5–6 eggs per day, reaching a total of 50–150 eggs over her lifespan of about 30 days.
- Body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis): similar interval of 30–40 minutes; daily output 4–5 eggs; total clutch size 100–150 eggs, with adult lifespan up to 40 days.
- Pubic lice (Pthirus pubis): one egg roughly every 45 minutes; daily output 3–4 eggs; total clutch size 30–40 eggs, adult lifespan 30–45 days.
Key factors influencing oviposition speed include ambient temperature, host hygiene, and availability of suitable attachment sites. Optimal temperatures (28–32 °C) accelerate metabolic processes, shortening the interval between successive eggs. Poor hygiene can increase the number of available attachment sites, allowing higher daily egg counts.
Egg development proceeds at a steady pace: incubation lasts 7–10 days for head and body lice, and 10–12 days for pubic lice. After hatching, the nymph undergoes three molts before reaching adulthood, each stage lasting 2–3 days. Consequently, a single female can generate a new generation within two weeks under favorable conditions.