How Are Bed Bugs Born?
WouterBed bugs start their lives as eggs, which hatch into nymphs. These bugs need a blood meal to grow and evolve, which is why they usually feed more frequently than adult bugs. Adults will feed on human blood for up to a year, but the life span of a nymph is four to six months.
Adult bed bugs are oval, wingless insects that grow to about 1/5 inch in length. They have small compound eyes and well-developed antennae. They are covered with numerous, fine hairs in the pronotum, the area behind the head. Bed bugs lay eggs in secluded areas of the home, such as the mattress or headboard, and they hatch out within 10 days. Their eggs are similar to sesame seeds.
Once they’ve hatched, bed bugs shed their egg shells and live on the surface of the skin. Their eggs are about 2.5mm long, white and semi-transparent. They usually cluster together in clusters. After hatching, bed bugs leave behind their egg shells and can be found in the same areas as adult bugs. They usually live and feed at night. They’re attracted to humans by their body heat and carbon dioxide emissions.
Adult bed bugs live for about five to seven weeks. Their life cycle begins in the female’s egg sack, where she deposits one to five eggs a day. The eggs hatch within a week or so if the environment is warm. Then they develop into five progressively larger nymphs, each of which requires a blood meal to develop into an adult. The life cycle lasts for five to four months, depending on the temperature.
