How Quickly Can Bed Bugs Multiply?
WouterIf you’ve just discovered that you have a bed bug infestation, you may be wondering, “How quickly can bed bugs multiply?” Fortunately, these insects don’t multiply that quickly compared to other types of pests. A single female bed bug can lay as many as 100 eggs within the first month of her life. The eggs hatch in seven to ten days, and the newly emerged nymphs start their search for a blood meal.
Most bedbug infestations begin with one single bed bug, but sometimes they can invade other furniture or clothing. Usually, a single bed bug is the mother of the entire infestation, and one female can multiply quickly and create a large population in as little as a few months. In some cases, the population can reach up to a million bugs.
Bed bugs can live anywhere, but they prefer a warm environment and a blood-filled host. A clean environment is not a deterrent for these pests, since they are attracted to clutter. Clutter gives them more hiding places, which makes it easier for them to reproduce. Clutter also makes it easier for them to travel from one place to another, which makes them very difficult to detect.
You can take preventative measures by removing infested furniture and treating it. In some cases, you can even deface furniture to make it less appealing. However, it is better if you can get rid of the furniture in a dumpster or waste facility. In addition, don’t forget that black plastic is not effective in killing bedbugs – the heat has to penetrate the entire item to kill them.
