How quickly do lice lay nits? - briefly
Lice start depositing eggs within 24–48 hours after emerging from the nymph stage, and a mature female can lay approximately five to ten nits each day, completing a full clutch in about a week. Egg‑laying persists throughout the adult phase, which generally lasts two to three weeks.
How quickly do lice lay nits? - in detail
Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) females begin oviposition a few days after reaching sexual maturity, typically 2–3 days post‑mating. Egg‑laying continues throughout the adult lifespan, which lasts about 30 days under optimal conditions.
- Each mature female deposits 5–7 eggs per day.
- Total clutch size reaches 50–100 eggs over the reproductive period.
- Eggs are attached to hair shafts near the scalp; incubation requires 7–10 days before hatching.
- After hatching, nymphs mature to reproductive adults in an additional 7–10 days.
Consequently, a single adult can produce roughly 10 eggs per week, accumulating to a potential population increase of several hundred individuals within a month if untreated. Environmental factors such as temperature and host grooming affect the exact rate, but the described averages represent typical reproductive output.