What Do Bed Bug Eggs Look Like?

Most people know that bed bugs are biting insects sometimes found in bedding or linens. However, few people understand how to inspect for bed bugs properly, and many overlook the threat they pose. Eliminating adult bed bugs doesn’t do any good if they’ve already laid eggs, so extra care is needed. 

It’s not uncommon to find bed bugs in hotels or your home, which is why you always need to be on the lookout for these pesky insects. Luckily, bed bugs and their eggs are easy to identify. Removing them may take a little more work, but that’s what professional pest removal services are for. This guide will tell you what bed bugs look like and give you all the information you need to search for bed bug eggs and run a full inspection on your home.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are tiny reddish brown flightless insects that feed on human blood and other animals. Due to their small size, people usually don’t feel their bites, but they definitely feel the effects. Bed bug bites cause itchy welts and mild skin inflammation. Some people experience allergic reactions such as rashes, fever, and blistered skin. 

It may take weeks to determine the cause of their rashes because bed bugs only come out at night in search of a blood meal. During the day, they hide in upholstered furniture, mattresses, bed springs, and crevices in rooms. They like to breed in couches and other soft furniture where they can live virtually undetected. Good hygiene and regular cleaning won’t always stop these irritating insects from infesting your home.

Can You See Bed Bug Eggs?

Good news! You can see bed bug eggs with the naked eye, and no microscope is needed. That’s why exterminators can find and remove these pests so quickly. However, when hunting for bed bug eggs, you need to know exactly what you’re looking for. The eggs are often hidden on the underside of furniture and other hard-to-reach places. To eliminate bed bug eggs, you need to know what they look like and where to look for their favorable conditions.

What Do Bed Bug Eggs Look Like?

Bed bug eggs look like tiny grains of rice. They are about one millimeter long, have an elongated oval shape, and are white and semi-translucent. The eggs are usually grouped in bunches and may be interspersed with the shells of hatched eggs. If an egg has hatched, you will see a hole in one end. If you find empty eggshells, don’t panic. The eggs in a bed bug clutch don’t hatch at the same time. You still have time to prevent the other eggs from hatching.

How Quickly Do Bed Bugs Reproduce?

The short answer is very, very quickly. After being laid, the eggs take about a week to hatch into bed bug nymphs. The nymphs immediately seek blood because they need regular meals to molt and progress to their next life stage. A few weeks after hatching, they are fully grown bed bug adults and ready to start laying their own eggs. An adult female bed bug can lay between one and seven eggs per day. Throughout its life, a single bed bug can lay hundreds of eggs.

Inspecting for Bed Bug Eggs

You should inspect for bed bug eggs in the same spots where bed bugs are known to live. That means soft, tucked-away spots in blankets and furniture. Occasionally the wingless insects will even hide in electrical outlets. Check the corners of your furniture, underneath your mattress (especially at the end), and anywhere sheets are piled. Use a flashlight when checking dark areas like screw holes or the underside of tables and chairs. If you see one egg, there are almost certainly more nearby.

If you buy secondhand furniture, always inspect it thoroughly. Bed bugs are known to hitch rides on used furniture, and secondhand items are a big part of how they spread. You can always try washing upholstery in hot water. Heat treatments and temperature extremes may help kill insects. 

Exterminating Bed Bugs With Budget Brothers

Bed bugs can be tough to get rid of since the eggs are even more resistant to extermination methods than the adults. The eggs are especially resistant to chemical treatments, and it usually takes multiple attempts to kill all of them. Instead of trying to eradicate bed bugs yourself, hire a pest control professional. Budget Brothers is a family-owned pest control company based in Phoenix Valley. We have dealt with bed bugs, termites, and more for over 25 years. You can learn more about bed bugs or contact Budget Brothers today for a free estimate for bed bug infestation removal services.