Bed bugs are small nocturnal insects that feed on human blood. Bites from bed bugs can cause allergic reactions and skin rashes. These parasites are hard to control as they reproduce swiftly after mating.
Here are a few facts about the life cycle of bed bugs:
- Eggs from the female bed bugs hatch in 6 to 10 days
- The nymph stage is about one week. However, it takes longer if there is no host to feed on
- The adult bed bug has a life cycle of about 6 to 12 months
The Stages of The Bed Bug Life Cycle
Identifying the life cycle of pests plays a significant role in helping you combat a bed bug infestation in your home. One of the telltale signs of an infestation by the bugs is noticing their shells. After the insects shed their shells, you will find shells lying around if the bugs nest in your home.
It would help if you looked out for bed bug eggs as they are very tiny and vary in size depending on their stage. The bugs are tiny and can be hard to notice. However, if your house gets infested with the culprits, you will find them walking around on your mattress or seats in no time.
1. Bed Bug Eggs
After a satiating blood meal, the female bed bugs become ready for mating. The female bed bug finds another habitat to lay eggs following mating. Subsequently, it takes the female bug 6 to 8 weeks to lay eggs. Furthermore, the eggs are laid singly or in clusters. They can be found in cracks or crevices since that’s where the female bug lays eggs.
What does a bed bug egg look like?
Bed bug eggs are significantly small. To be precise, they are less than a millimeter long. The eggs are white and grain-like. Size-wise, they resemble a few salt flecks. Additionally, you will find the eggs in places the female bed bugs harbor, like mattresses.
Baby Bed Bugs/ Nymphs
Although baby bugs are small, they can easily bite you like their adult counterparts. Nymphs pass through 5 distinct stages before becoming full adults. In addition, they must have at least one blood meal before molting into the next stage. Baby bed bugs enlarge gradually in each stage. It takes five weeks to 6 months for the nymph to develop into an adult.
Adult Bed Bugs
Adult bed bugs require frequent feeding to survive. They feed in human blood after every ten days or less. Imagine what a bed-bug infestation can put you through. Furthermore, female bed bugs produce more eggs with an unlimited blood supply.
The adult life span of bed bugs ranges anywhere between 4 to 6 months. Additionally, they can live up to 2 years if a host is available to nourish them. A female bed bug lays between 1 and 5 eggs each day. Did you know that a female bed bug can lay 200 to 250 eggs in its lifetime? This explains why it is almost impossible to control these critters.
Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?
Due to their tiny structure, bed bugs are very easy to spread. A single person can carry up to 5-bed bugs. In addition, the pests spread easily from an infested area to a new place. You should avoid buying second-hand furniture as bed bugs are found in old furniture and mattresses. That could be the reason why the previous owner discarded them.
Over and above that, bed bugs are almost anywhere. You will find them in luggage, backpacks, or on anything placed on furniture. So naturally, the culprits rest where they can get into contact with humans. Besides, they can travel easily from one apartment to another. So, unfortunately, you can get a bed-bug infestation in your house when you come from an infested hotel room.
What Attracts Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are attracted by carbon dioxide. They are adapted to detect carbon dioxide from a potential host and attack a new host immediately. They detect human warmth as they look for potential hosts and hide in unsanitary areas like piles of dirty laundry.
How to Keep Bed Bugs at Bay
Bed bugs are challenging to control. Additionally, they lay hundreds of eggs, and thus, they effortlessly infest your home. So, there are a few measures to keep the insects away from your house. Some of the methods that help keep bed bugs at bay include:
- Wash mattress covers, bedding, and night clothes at high temperatures.
Afterward, you should ensure that they dry completely. The bugs can’t endure high levels of heat. Additionally, exposure to the direct sun helps kill the bed bugs’ eggs and larvae.
- Check your bags for infestation signs once you are back from a trip.
Bed bugs travel with ease in luggage. You can carry bed bugs from hotel rooms, airports, or the bus. Therefore checking your bags for signs of an infestation is crucial to helping you deal with the ordeal early.
- Keep your room tidy so that you can spot the culprits easily.
It is hard to locate bugs in a messy room. But, on the other hand, a tidy room gives you room to notice any bed bugs.
- Avoid buying second-hand furniture.
Second-hand furniture can harbor many bed bugs. Not only can the bugs come from an infestation in their previous home, but the bugs can also get on the furniture during transportation.
- Using Scents
Scents such as tea tree oil and lavender oil are too strong for bed bugs to stand. The oils have a strong scent that repels the bed bugs. Spraying lavender or tea tree oil on mattress covers and furniture will help keep the bed bugs away.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Getting rid of the bed bugs is not a walk in the park since they reproduce eggs in great numbers. Additionally, they hide in various places around the house. However, there are measures you can take to eliminate them. Some of the methods include:
- Thorough Vacuuming of your House
Among the first things you should do after bed bugs infest your house is to vacuum every area thoroughly. The vacuum will suck away bed bugs as well as eggs in corners. All Vacuums serve the same purpose but getting one with bags is advisable. The insects are collected in the bags. This way, you won’t come into direct contact with the pests.
- Washing All Linen in Hot Water
Bed bugs cannot stand excessive heat. Therefore, washing All your clothes, curtains, and bedding in hot water following an infestation will kill many bugs. Additionally, scrubbing off Mattress seams with a brush aids in killing eggs.
- Contact a Registered Pest Controller
Registered pest controllers have the right equipment to kill bed bugs. Additionally, they know all types of bugs and therefore offer a specific solution. Moreover, the professionals know whether to use non-chemical methods or pesticides.
How to Treat Bed Bug Bites
Although bed bug bites are not harmful, they are itchy and leave spots. Besides, they leave red marks that eventually fade off. In severe cases, they can cause an allergic reaction. Bed bug bites appear like red and swollen spots or resemble a welt. Additionally, they are itchy and can have a burning sensation.
Bed bugs can bite you anywhere. However, they bite exposed skin like your hands and neck. The bites disappear within a short time. Additionally, you can treat them yourself at home. Some of the best ways to treat bed bugs bites are:
- Applying over-the-counter steroid creams to reduce swelling and itching
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers
- Taking oral antihistamines like Benadryl to alleviate itching
- Washing the bites with soap and water
When to See a Doctor
Although bed bug bites are nothing to be worried about, you can get an allergic reaction from being bitten by bed bugs. You should visit the doctor if you experience any of the signs below:
- Outbreak of hives
- Labored breathing
- Swelling in the eyes, mouth, or throat
- Fever or chills
- Dizziness
The doctor will prescribe a suitable antihistamine to help alleviate your suffering. However, you should avoid purchasing over-the-counter creams or pain relievers without a prescription from a medical professional.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the life cycle of bed bugs consists of several stages. After mating, a female bed bug looks for another habitat to lay its eggs. It takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks for the bed bugs to lay eggs. The eggs laid by a female bed bug are hard to spot. However, looking closely, you may notice white, tiny grain-like eggs.
Contrary to the myth, unsanitary conditions do not attract bed bugs. However, they are attracted to messy rooms or piles of dirty laundry as they act as their hiding spots. Therefore, you should strive to tidy your room to spot the critters easily. Also, be keen when looking for bed bugs, as they are not easy to locate. They prefer dark hidden areas like mattresses, where they can hide and easily attack their prey.
Meta Description: Bed bugs are small nocturnal insects that feed on human blood. But how long can they live and what’s their life cycle? Find out here.
Pull Quotes:
- Identifying the life cycle of pests plays a significant role in helping you combat a bed bug infestation in your home.
- Although bed bug bites are nothing to be worried about, you can get an allergic reaction from being bitten by bed bugs.
