Bed bugs are something most homeowners are terrified of and rightfully so. These pests can multiply more quickly than most expect and before you know it, it can take over the entire home. Identifying the bugs at every stage is important to stopping the outbreak before it is too late.
Baby bed bugs and the bed bug life – how to stay ahead of an infestation. Bed bugs are nocturnal, reddish-brown insects that feed on the blood of humans and practically any other warm-blooded animals. They are wingless, flat-bodied, and love to hide in floor cracks, beds, furniture, and carpeting.
Like most bugs, bed bugs begin life as an egg but within two eggs hatch into an immature bed bug. Immediately, these baby bed bugs begin to eat anything with warm blood that they can get ahold of. They soon will reach adulthood and begin to reproduce as well, leading to even more babies and an even larger infestation.
The Life Cycle of the Bed Bug
As mentioned, just like all other bugs, the bed bug goes through a life cycle from egg to adulthood. Knowing the phases of the bed bug life cycle is important if you do see them around your home, so you can attack them at every stage. The basic life cycle of a bed bug is:
- Egg – The bed bug’s life begins as an egg, which is similar to grain and milky white in color. The female bed bug lays between one and five eggs a day, adding up to around 500 eggs in her lifetime. They can be laid singly or in clusters, making them easily hid in cracks or crevices. Most eggs are only 1 mm in length, similar to two grains of salt.
- Nymph – The baby bed bugs are called nymphs and arrive within two weeks of the egg hatching. They pass through a series of five molts before reaching maturity, starting much smaller than an adult bug. They look extremely similar to the adults but are not yet sexually mature. The nymphs are yellowish-white in color, with older nymphs appearing more reddish-brown.
- Adults – As nymphs, the bugs need a blood meal to molt and at room temperature, they can become adults within five weeks. Once adults reach maturity, these bugs will make weekly feedings. Bed bugs can live from around four to six months but can survive in cooler temperatures with no food for up to a year.
Stages of Bed Bug Nymph Growth
Baby bed bugs are similar to adults in terms of their general body shape. They do not go through a traditional metamorphosis like many other bugs but do grow in stages.
- Upon hatching from the egg, the nymphs are extremely tiny and white. This makes them difficult to spot, especially on white sheets or white bedding where they will blend in.
- These baby bed bugs go through five juvenile bed bug stages. The first two or three are considered their baby stage and they remain much smaller.
- Once they reach the third stage, they are around a third of the size of an adult bug and a third of the width. The fourth stage gets them to about half of the size of the adult and upon completing the final stage, they are fully grown.
Color Changes in Baby Bed Bugs
Since bed bugs hatch out a white to an off-white color, they very closely resemble a grain of rice. They are also a similar color the eggs themselves, both of which can be extremely hard to spot with the naked eye. Their color quickly begins to change upon eating because they use the blood they drink to grow.
You may notice that some of the baby bed bugs seen around your home have a red lump in their abdomen, which is where thy store blood upon feeding. They digest this food over time, allowing them to shed and grow larger. Over these phases, they begin to turn brown instead of the white color.
This brown shade is a result of the bug using your blood as nutrition. Each stage throughout this growth leads to them turning browner and browner. As an adult, they are completely brown from consistent feeding on blood.
How to Find Baby Bed Bugs
Many have the misconception that they cannot get a bed bug infestation because they live in a single-family home, but these bugs can get carried in from practically anywhere. While most bed bugs are found in hotels or other housing options, they most affect regular families. If you have any signs of bed bugs, it is time to search for them, and looking for baby bed bugs is key.
Adult bed bugs can be difficult to find, but these nymphs are almost impossible to spot on your own. You need to look in certain areas where the bugs frequent to find any juvenile bugs and take care of the problem. To search for baby bed bugs, you should:
- Look for Groups – One thing that makes bed bugs easier to find is they like to live in groups in places referred to as harborages. They are typically in these harborages under mattresses, bed frames, or other bedroom furniture.
- Check Common Areas – Cracks and seams are easy places for bed bugs to hide and a favorite place for them. They can also hide in places you may think to look, like folded clothes or even headboards.
- Try to Find Shells – Baby bed bugs are the only ones who shed their shells, which is why you may find them lying around when you have an infestation. Any shells you may find are a sure sign of juveniles being present.
- Grab a Magnifying Glass – As mentioned, baby bed bugs are very difficult to see with the naked eye, and grabbing a magnifying glass is your best bed on finding them. You may even be able to spot some eggs with a little help.
If you have noticed any signs of bed bugs, there is a sure chance that you have babies present. It only takes one female to reproduce if she has mated, and one female can leave hundreds of babies behind. You will surely find eggs and nymphs with a bed bug infestation of any size from only a few to hundreds.
Can you Have Baby Bed Bugs with No Sign of Adults?
It is essentially impossible to have a baby bed bug without an adult present. Baby bed bugs do not travel and often remain in their centralized location until they reach adulthood. If you do not have signs of several adult bed bugs, you should know that there is at least one adult female that has laid eggs.
There is always a slim chance that the female bed bug has laid eggs and died from other reasons, but this is not a common occurrence. However, some adult bed bugs are better at hiding than their juvenile counterparts. If you do see baby bed bugs, there is a high chance that an infestation is already happening, and any babies you do not get rid of will grow older and begin laying eggs.
Within a month of hatching, babies can begin laying eggs of their own, and an infestation can grow rapidly. It is important that you begin treating the bugs as soon as you spot any in your home, no matter which stage of development they are in. The smaller the infestation, the easier it is to rid your home of the bugs.
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