Finding bed bugs can be a disturbing sight.
They appear in homes, hotels, schools, public transportation, you name it. Bed bugs are resistant to most extermination methods once they’ve infiltrated a space.
If they go undetected there can be even more of an issue. That’s why noticing bed bug eggs early in the process is of the utmost importance. As easy as it sounds, low-level infestations can be difficult to correctly identify.
Bed bug eggs are laid in hard to reach places. You need to find the infestation before it becomes established or spreads. Minor infestations are a lot cheaper of a fix than full-blown exterminations.
So what’re the best ways to identify bed bug eggs and what happens when you find them?
Understand Bed Bug Eggs
Bed bug eggs are only one millimeter long. They appear as transparent to white cylindrical eggs.
Fresh eggs will have a shiny appearance because of the sticky substance that’s on the egg. If an empty eggshell is seen, your infestation is growing by the minute.
Female bed bugs are capable of laying 12 eggs every day. On average they only lay one to seven eggs. These eggs will hatch in six to 16 days.
Bed bugs make sure to lay their eggs near a host so they have access to a blood source for feeding. The more the female eats, the more eggs she’ll lay.
During the egg-laying process, bed bugs need food. However, bed bugs can go long periods of time without eating once there are hatched bed bug eggs. Their average lifespan covers about a year but three generations of bed bugs can be produced within that year.
These eggs are sticky giving them the ability to adhere to most surfaces. Where should you look for bed bug eggs?
How to Spot Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are commonly found where their name associates them — the bed.
This is the most opportune area to lay thanks to proximity to food. Bed frames, sheets, and mattresses are all fair game to a bed bug infestation. They might also consider any furniture close to your bedside if the infestation is severe.
This could be the carpet, walls, and even your nightstand.
Places with the least amount of disturbances are hotspots. Depending on where you sleep, bed bugs will lay their eggs on the opposite side of the bed hoping to go unrecognized.
And they likely are.
Bed bugs can live in areas as thick as a credit card, that’s why locating them can be so difficult.
Signs of Bed Bugs Infestation
There are a few obvious characteristics of a bed bug infestation.
If you’re waking up with itchy red bites, this is the number one sign of bed bugs. They’ll bite any skin that’s exposed leaving an inflamed red bump. However, in some cases, bed bugs won’t leave a mark.
This means that even if there are no bite marks, bed bugs could still be infiltrating your home.
Additional signs of bed bugs are:
- Bites in a line
- Musty odors
- Bloodstains on sheets
- Colored spots on the mattress
- Dark wall spots
- Bed bug eggshells
- White furniture joint spots
If you’re noticing any of these signs or symptoms of bed bugs, call an exterminator as soon as possible.
How to Kill Bed Bugs
If the bed bugs are still in egg form, there are a couple of ways you can exterminate an infestation.
Heated treatments are effective in killing bed bugs and their eggs. Steamers, portable heaters, and fans can all be used to reach racks, holes, and crevices that bed bugs are in.
You’ll need to prep the area beforehand, removing aerosol cans, medications, indoor plants, and other heat-sensitive items. Take your surrounding items with you. You never know where bed bugs could move to before they’re killed off.
Heat treatments can be effective in one day rather than a few or a week. On the opposite side of the spectrum, cold treatments can also do the trick.
Freezing bed bugs and their eggs can be done by using cold water that’s below freezing point when washing clothes and bedding. If it can be washed, place items in a freezing environment for 30 days.
Unfortunately, cold treatments aren’t as effective as hot treatments.
You can also use a variety of store-bought bed bug powders. These are an effective way to cure the problem with powerful chemicals. These chemicals aren’t always effective in killing bed bugs when they’re out in open areas.
If worst comes to worst, you need a professional. Don’t be afraid to spend the money to get someone else involved.
Bed Bugs Spread
If you or a neighbor have an outbreak of bed bugs, make sure you’re alert of the situation.
You may not believe it, but bed bugs can travel to neighboring houses during an infestation. Take the necessary precautions if someone near you has a bug bed episode.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Custom Bedbug
Need an expert to resolve your bed bug eggs? Custom Bedbug will do the job right the first time.
Our company’s services come equipped with a 100 percent success rate. We’re confident regardless of the type of property or the severity of the situation that we’ll be able to handle it.
We’ve expanded throughout Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Utah. Custom Bedbug uses state of the art equipment to completely eliminate an infestation.
Environmentally friendly alternatives instead of chemical applications are used.
Need our help? Give us a call today. We’ll identify, eliminate, and prevent the spread of bed bugs.
