When do bedbugs lay eggs? - briefly
Female bedbugs deposit eggs roughly every 5–10 days after feeding, with production increasing at temperatures above 70 °F (21 °C). They can lay eggs continuously throughout the year under favorable conditions.
When do bedbugs lay eggs? - in detail
Bedbugs reproduce after a blood meal. Females require a recent feed before they can develop mature eggs, so oviposition occurs primarily during the night following ingestion of blood. The interval between feeding and egg deposition ranges from 4 to 10 days, depending on temperature, host availability, and the insect’s physiological state.
Key factors influencing the timing:
- Temperature: At 25 °C (77 °F) development proceeds fastest; females may lay the first batch within 4–5 days. Cooler conditions (15–20 °C) extend the interval to 7–10 days.
- Blood source: A full, undisturbed meal accelerates egg maturation. Partial or interrupted feeds delay oviposition.
- Female age and condition: Newly emerged adults require at least one blood meal before producing eggs, while older, well‑fed females can lay eggs more frequently.
A healthy female can lay 1–5 eggs per day, accumulating 200–500 eggs over her lifetime. Egg batches are deposited in protected crevices near the host’s resting area. Each batch typically contains 5–10 eggs, laid in clusters that harden within 24 hours. After the first oviposition, subsequent egg‑laying cycles repeat every 5–7 days as long as the insect continues to obtain blood meals.
In summary, egg deposition follows a blood meal, with the first eggs appearing 4–10 days later, and the cycle persisting throughout the adult’s reproductive period under suitable environmental conditions.