How many eggs can a cigarette beetle lay in freshly harvested tobacco?

The cigarette beetle, known scientifically as Lasioderma serricorne, has a reproductive capacity that aligns closely with the choice indicating 30-40 eggs laid in freshly harvested tobacco. This range reflects the typical oviposition behavior of the cigarette beetle, which seeks suitable environments to lay eggs, with tobacco being a prime substrate due to its nutritional value for larvae once they hatch.

Understanding the biology of the cigarette beetle helps clarify this reproductive range. Females often lay their eggs in batches to ensure that a sufficient number will survive in a favorable environment, maximizing their reproductive success. The specific choice accurately represents this behavior, making it the right answer in the context of a fresh tobacco supply where conditions are optimal for the beetle's lifecycle.