How Do Bed Bugs Reproduce?
WouterBed bugs reproduce in two ways. First, they lay an egg. Once the egg has hatched, the female will look for a blood meal. This meal will nourish the nymph. It will develop quickly and grow bigger than its usual size. After a week, the nymph will shed its shell, and start feeding. The next two weeks will be devoted to larval development, and the fourth two weeks will be dedicated to adult development.
Second, the female will lay eggs far away from their original harborage, which will avoid remating with their partner. This process helps to create new infestations. It’s important to note that bed bugs don’t actually live on the human host, but they are attracted to the carbon dioxide produced by the host’s skin.
Bed bugs also reproduce by piercing their female host with a pointy penis and entering the body cavity. The male prefers to inseminate females that have recently fed, because the outer membrane is easier to puncture. However, the process of mating isn’t as simple as it seems.
Bed bugs reproduce in a similar way as other insects. Females lay between three and eight eggs per day. This number can increase to twelve or more if they’re in good health. The eggs stay in hiding places for six to 17 days before hatching.
