Bed bugs are a nightmare for every homeowner. They invade your bed and nip at your body, leaving you with tiny welts and an unshakeable sense of revulsion. If you know what bed bug eggs look like, you can eradicate the problem early and save yourself so much anxiety and sleeplessness.
In this article, we’ll discuss what bed bug eggs look like, where to look for them, and how to get rid of them so you can sleep peacefully.
Key Takeaways
Bed bug eggs are tiny: The eggs measure about a millimeter in diameter, are oval-shaped, and have a white, translucent appearance.
Dead bed bug eggs are pale: They are pale yellow, dry, and loosely attached to the surface.
Bed bugs lay multiple eggs: Females can lay one to seven eggs a day and up to 500 eggs in their lifetime.
Their eggs hatch quickly: They take seven to 10 days to hatch, even quicker in warmer climates.
Look in hidden spots: Female bed bugs lay eggs in places like mattress seams, box springs, cracks in furniture, couches, and below carpets. Use a flashlight and torch to spot the eggs.
Eliminate eggs to prevent infestations: Inspect, vacuum surfaces, treat with a steamer and chemical sprayer, and place bed bug traps.
How to Recognize Bed Bug Eggs
Bed bugs go through five stages of development: egg, nymph (five molts — shedding of the exoskeleton to grow), and adult. The egg stage of bed bugs is often overlooked but is a crucial part of bed bug reproduction.
Their eggs are tiny, measuring about a millimeter in diameter. They are oval-shaped and pearly white and resemble small grains of rice or salt.
Bed bugs lay their eggs in clusters. Since they are tiny and have a white translucent appearance, seeing them with the naked eye is difficult, especially if they are on a light-colored bed. However, if you have seen the eggs before and know where to look for them, you can spot them easily.
A tiny reddish-brown spot, which resembles an eye, appears on the front of the egg after five days. The eye becomes a hinged cap that opens for the nymph to escape. If the cap is open, the baby has already hatched.
Bed bug eggs are sticky, which helps them adhere to the cracks or crevices of a mattress, sofa, or wherever the mother is. These eggs are soft, and when you squeeze them, they will squish. Sometimes, the inside may come out. Bed bug eggs don’t feel sticky on the inside.
What Do Dead Bed Bug Eggs Look Like?
Dead bed bug eggs look pretty similar to live ones, except that they:
- Turn a pale yellow color
- Become dry and less shiny
- Become less sticky and are loosely attached
- Don’t grow in size
How Many Eggs Does a Bed Bug Lay in a Day?
A female bed bug lays between one and seven eggs a day and can lay up to 500 eggs in her 10-month lifetime. However, most females can only lay up to 113 eggs because they don’t live long enough.
Male bed bugs stab a female’s abdomen with their reproductive organ and inject sperm inside her body. After fertilization, females need a blood meal to lay eggs. They can lay up to 20 eggs from a single blood meal.
Bed bug mating is painful, unlike humans. So, the female stores injected sperm for an extended period and uses it to lay multiple eggs.
How Long Do Eggs Take to Hatch?
Bed bug eggs take between seven and 10 days to hatch. Warmer temperature and higher humidity accelerates egg development. On the other hand, cooler temperatures extend the incubation period.
The nymphs go through five molts and take five to seven weeks to become adults. These pesky nymphs start feeding immediately after coming out because they need a blood meal to develop further.
How to Find Bed Bug Eggs
Bed bugs lay eggs in hidden places, such as:
- Mattress seams and joints
- Box springs
- Cracks in bed frames
- Headboards
- Nightstands
- Around electrical outlets near the bed
- Couches
- Below carpets
- Underneath wallpaper
Female bed bugs usually lay their eggs in clusters (10 to 50) to increase the chance of survival. You can easily spot eggs in clusters with your naked eye. However, identifying individual eggs can be difficult. We recommend using a flashlight and magnifying glass to inspect for eggs so you don’t miss any.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bug Eggs?
Bed bugs start sucking blood as soon as they hatch. Worse, they reproduce rapidly, so you should eliminate them before they become a serious problem. Here’s how you can get rid of bed bug eggs:
1. Inspect for Eggs
If bed bugs are present, their eggs are likely to be as well. Look for them in mattress seams, cracks in furniture, and below carpets. Bed bug eggs are difficult to see with the naked eye, so use a flashlight and magnifying glass to identify them.
If you find eggs in clusters, there’s a high chance you’re dealing with a severe infestation. In such cases, we highly recommend hiring a pro.
2. Vacuum and Clean the Surface
Vacuuming doesn’t remove the eggs, but it can suck the mother that lays them. Here’s how to vacuum:
- Use a stiff brush to dislodge bed bugs from the surface.
- Run the vacuum over the surface.
- Remove the vacuum container and seal up the waste in a plastic bag.
- Dispose of the bag immediately to prevent re-infestation.
Wash and dry mattress cover and other infested clothes at the highest heat setting. Deep clean the mattress to get rid of as many eggs and bed bugs as possible.
If you can’t wash an item like curtains, dry clean them at the highest possible temperature.
If you can’t wash or dry clean an item like picture frames, put them in a sealed plastic bag and then put the bag in a freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit for five days. Freezing temperatures kill bed bugs and their eggs.
Note: Don’t move an infested item to a clean room or you riskl the infestation spreading.
3. Discard Clutter
You can’t put an end to bed bug infestation unless you get rid of bed bugs entirely. Bed bugs mate and lay eggs in hidden spots, so you’ll need to throw out clutter, including:
- Items under your bed
- Old magazines and newspapers
- Unused cardboard boxes
- Unused furniture
Don’t forget to cover electrical outlets with tape as bed bugs can hide inside.
4. Treat Bed Bug Eggs
There are two ways you can treat bed bug eggs at home:
- Steamer
- Chemical pesticide
Steamer
Bed bugs and their eggs die when exposed to temperatures above 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Because steamers can reach temperatures of 200 degrees Fahrenheit and higher, they can easily eliminate bed bugs and their eggs.
Move the steamer slowly over areas where you suspect bed bug activity, such as mattress seams, box springs, and furniture joints. Aim for a speed of about 13 inches every 30 seconds. The process can be tedious but don’t rush it because bed bug eggs are heat-resistant and require continuous exposure to heat to die.
Bed bug eggs don’t move, but bed bugs do to escape the heat. We recommend you repeat the process at least two times to ensure bed bugs are eliminated.
Chemical Pesticide
Bed bug sprays like MGK Bedlam Plus are effective, but they work only if the bugs come in direct contact with the spray. So, thoroughly spray all the areas where bed bugs may be hiding.
Bed bug sprays emit an unpleasant odor and irritate your skin, so be sure to wear gloves and a respirator. Also, ventilate the room after treatment.
Pro tip: We recommend combining steamer and chemical pesticides for the best results.
Other DIY treatments like alcohol, vinegar, and diatomaceous earth work against bed bugs but not their eggs. The same applies to bed bug bombs or foggers, which are quite popular in local home improvement stores.
5. Cover Your Mattress
Bed bugs are elusive, and some may have escaped the treatment, especially if they were inside the mattress. We recommend covering the mattress with a bed bug cover for a month to trap the bed bugs that may be inside. The cover also protects you from bites.
6. Monitor
Since bed bugs are tiny and remain hidden, eliminating them can take some time. Place bed bug interceptors under each leg of your bed and furniture to trap them when they try to climb. Check the interceptor every seven days for a year to prevent future infestations.
7. Call the Pros (If Necessary)
If DIY treatment doesn’t work and the bloodsuckers keep coming back, call the pros. They have the tools and expertise to identify and effectively eliminate bed bugs. Pros usually use heat treatment or fumigation to eradicate bed bugs and their eggs.
Heat Treatment
This treatment costs $1 to $3 per square foot and can kill bed bugs at every stage of life.
Pros use industrial heaters to increase the temperature in your home to levels that are lethal to bed bugs (120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit). They maintain this temperature for about six to nine hours to eliminate these pesky creatures entirely.
Heat treatment can put an end to existing infestations but can’t prevent re-infestations because it doesn’t involve chemicals.
You (and your pets) should vacate your home for a day and take these items with you as they can’t withstand the heat:
- Potted plants
- Food items and medicines
- Plastic items
- Gadgets and other electronic devices
- Flammable items like perfumes
Fumigation
Fumigation costs between $4 and $8 per square foot and can kill bed bugs at all stages.
The pros seal your home with a large tent and fill the space with fumigant gas. The gas penetrates every crack and crevice to eliminate bed bugs. It also eradicates termites, cockroaches, and rodents.
Fumigation can prevent bed bugs from returning, but only to some extent. Taking preventive measures is necessary to keep these bloodsuckers at bay.
This treatment takes 24 to 72 hours, and you must vacate your home during the process. Here’s all the prep work you need to do before leaving:
- Take food and medicines with you
- Cover plants
- Unplug and cover electronic devices
- Turn off gas appliances
- Keep utensils inside cabinets
Since this treatment is complex and expensive, it’s only used if no other methods work.
Click here to read a detailed guide on the cost of bed bug treatment.
8. Prevent Re-Infestations
Bed bugs can return even if they get the slightest chance. Here’s how you can prevent future bed bug infestations:
- Seal cracks and crevices in baseboards, walls, and furniture
- Remove and inspect wallpapers regularly
- Regularly clean and vacuum mattress, carpet, and curtain
- Place bed bug traps under the legs of your bed
- Inspect shoes and keep them organized
- Avoid second-hand furniture
FAQs
Can bed bugs live in my hair?
No, bed bugs live in hidden and undisturbed spots, and your hair is definitely not such a place. Each time your hair follicle moves, these bloodsuckers get knocked down. Bed bugs may wander on your scalp while you sleep, but they won’t nest there.
How long can bed bugs survive without a blood meal?
Bed bug nymphs can survive a month, and adults can survive a year without feeding on blood. However, the duration can vary depending on temperature and humidity. In average room temperature, which is between 68 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit, bed bugs can live only for three months without a blood meal.
How often should I inspect my home for bed bugs?
Bed bugs remain hidden and reproduce rapidly. So, we recommend checking your home at least once a month for these bloodsuckers. When returning from a trip, check your bags and clothes for bed bugs to ensure they don’t enter your home.
When to Call a Professional
Bed bugs are literally of no use to us. They just suck our blood and leave itchy, red bite marks on our body. These bloodsuckers multiply rapidly, and the quicker you get rid of them, the better.
Pest Gnome connects you with the best bed bug exterminators in your area who can help you with everything related to bed bugs, from identifying and treating them to taking steps to prevent future infestations.
Main Photo Credit: AndreyPopov / Canva Pro / License
