Find the best ways to eliminate bed bug eggs by learning about their appearance and common hiding spots. Also, learn about effective home remedies to eliminate them.
Have you ever found yourself waking up in the night with tiny red bites all over your body? If yes! You may be the victim of bed bugs.
These pests are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They’re experts at hiding and are often found in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and other furniture.
Although bed bugs don’t carry diseases, their bites can be itchy and uncomfortable. Plus, they pose a significant threat to your home since they can quickly reproduce and spread to other rooms.
If you think you may have a bed bug problem, it’s essential to know what they look like and where to find them. This article will teach you everything about bed bug eggs, including how to get rid of them for good.
Bed Bug Eggs and their Characteristics
Eggs are the first stage of a bed bug’s life cycle. Bed bugs lay their eggs in secluded places, like cracks in furniture or behind baseboards. Female bed bugs can lay up to about 500 eggs in their lifetime. Bed bug eggs are small, oval-shaped, and white. They are typically found in groups on mattresses, bed frames, and headboards.
The origin of bed bugs can be traced back to ancient Rome and Greece. They are known to have existed since 400 BC. Hailing from the family of Cimicidae and the Cimex genus, bed bugs are small insects that come in different shapes and sizes.
While an adult bed bug is oval in shape and reddish-brown in color, younger ones are either white or light in color. However, the eggs are transparent or pearl-white, and to give you a perspective, they appear like a grain of uncooked rice. The nymphs are about 2 to 3 mm (0.07" to 0.11") and as they mature, they reach about 4 to 5 mm (0.15" to 0.19") length.
Characteristics of Bed Bugs Eggs
Before we get into the details of getting rid of bed bug eggs, let us understand the different characteristics of these eggs. These features will give you a better understanding of why they are difficult to spot and how you can get rid of them.
- The eggs go through 5 molts or nymph stages before they reach adulthood.
- Their eggs are identifiable and visible to the human eye but are very small, so it’s difficult to see them properly without a magnifying glass.
- They are typically white but can also be transparent or pearl-white.
- Bed bug eggs are usually found in cracks or crevices on furniture.
- Just like bed bugs, their eggs are also soft and can be easily squashed. Plus, they are sticky when touched.
- They are often compared with salt because of their small size and color. However, bed bug eggs are soft and sticky, while salt grains are rough to touch.
- These eggs are typically the size of a pumpkin seed or pinhead. They are 1.5 mm (0.05”) in the first stage and can nearly double their size after consuming human blood.
- As they go through the nymph stages, they leave their shells and molts. They leave behind the dust, or their skin remains.
- The hatching time depends on the place and temperature, and it takes more time to hatch if the temperature is high. Typically, it takes about 7 to 10 days for the eggs to hatch.
Now that you are aware of the fundamentals of bed bug eggs, let us look at the common places where you can find them.
Places Where Bed Bugs Eggs are Usually Found
As we mentioned earlier, bed bugs prefer to lay their eggs in secluded places. These are usually cracks and crevices on furniture or behind baseboards.
They house the places which are tight and not used frequently, like sofas, headboards, or dressers. Other choices include the areas closer to their host for a blood meal. You can find bed bug eggs in varied places. Some of these common sites are listed below:
Clothing
Bed bugs can lay eggs on your clothing, especially if they are left lying around on the floor or in a pile. They want to be closer to their hosts and are often found on clothing to make meal hunting easy.
It can be hard to recognize them on the clothes as they are so tiny. However, you can look for small brown or red spots on your clothing. These are usually bed bug feces and indicate that there might be eggs on your clothing.
Sheets and Mattress
Your bed is probably the first place you should look for bed bug eggs. These pests are known to hide in mattresses and lay their eggs there. Other than that, you can also look for them on your sheets and other bedding. These are usually places where they have easy access to their host for a blood meal.
Furniture
As mentioned earlier, bed bugs usually lay their eggs in tight and secluded places. These are typically cracks and crevices on furniture or behind baseboards. They often choose places like sofas, headboards, or dressers as these are not used frequently and provide them with an easy hiding spot.
There’s a high chance of finding them on any upholstered furniture in your home. These are usually places where they have easy access to their host for a blood meal.
Lights or Light Bulbs
Another common place to find bed bug eggs is on light bulbs. The bulbs are not frequently cleaned and provide an easy hiding and feeding spot for bed bugs. You can also find them on lamps or any other light fixture in your home.
Electric Outlets
Electric outlets are another common place where you can find bed bug eggs. Especially behind the plastic covers as they are rarely cleaned or removed. These provide an easy hiding spot for bed bugs and their eggs.
What are the Best Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bug Eggs?
Now that you know where to look for bed bug eggs, the next step is to learn how to get rid of them. Bed bugs are a menace, and their eggs are nothing short of a nightmare. But you don’t have to worry; we’ve got your back.
This can be a challenge as they are often hidden in hard-to-reach places. They are small and can be difficult to spot. However, there are some proven things you can try to get rid of bed bug eggs. Some of the best methods are listed below:
Vacuum the Room
The first step is to vacate the entire room. This includes all the furniture, bedding, and carpets. Once you have removed everything, you can start vacuuming the room. Make sure to vacuum all the cracks and crevices, especially around the baseboards and furniture. Even if you don’t vacate your room, using a vacuum for cleaning can still be effective. If you run it thrice a week around the house, you can take care of almost all the bed bugs.
You can also employ a handheld vacuum to clean hard-to-reach places. This will help remove any bed bug eggs that might be hiding there. Use a stiff brush to scrub the carpets and furniture to loosen any bed bug eggs attached to them. Then vacuum the area to remove the eggs.
Use a Steamer
Another effective way to get rid of bed bug eggs is to use a steamer. Bed bugs can lose functionality at about 37.7 °C (99.86 °F), and at 47.77 °C (117.9 °F), they will die. Therefore exposing them to steam will kill them and their eggs. You can use a steamer on all the cracks and crevices in your room. This includes places like behind the baseboards, furniture, and electric outlets.
Hold the steamer close to the surface to eliminate all the bed bug eggs. You can also use a steamer on your carpets and furniture. This will help kill the bed bugs or eggs hiding there.
Bedding Hygiene
Practicing good bedding hygiene is one of the best ways to get rid of bed bug eggs. This includes washing your bedding, sheets, and pillowcases in hot water. Putting the sheets or bedding in the dryer in a high-heat setting can kill any bed bugs or eggs.
You should also vacuum your mattress and box spring. This will help remove any bed bugs or eggs hiding there. You can also try encasing your mattress and box spring in a bedbug-proof cover. It will prevent any bed bugs from getting into your bedding.
Essential Oils
A few essential oils can help get rid of bed bug eggs. These include clove oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, and peppermint oil. Apply these oils to any cracks and crevices in your room, including places like behind the baseboards, furniture, and electric outlets.
Make sure to apply the oils directly to the bed bug eggs. While you are at it, you can also add a few drops of these oils to your vacuum cleaner. This will potentially kill the bed bugs or eggs you might vacuum up.
Pesticide Intervention
If you are dealing with severe bed bug infestation, you might need to use pesticides. This should be your last resort, as some pesticides can harm your health. You should also hire a professional pest control company to do this for you.
Another reliable option is to use diatomaceous earth powder to get rid of bed bug eggs. The diatomaceous powder is made from the fossilized remains of algae and is deadly to bed bugs. You can apply this powder to any cracks and crevices in your room, and it will get the job done.
What Instantly Kills Bed Bug Eggs?
Apart from the means discussed above, a few things can instantly kill bed bug eggs. This instant kill list rounds up some of the most effective home remedies. You can use them to get rid of the bed bug eggs quickly.
Some of the things that can instantly kill bed bug eggs are:
Extremely High Temperatures
Bed bugs are vulnerable to high temperatures, and you can put this to use while dealing with them. Temperatures above 47.77 °C (117.9 °F) can kill them instantly. So you can go for a one-shot at killing the bed bugs by increasing your home’s indoor temperature. Make sure there’s no one in the house when you do this.
You can use a hairdryer or clothes iron to kill bed bug eggs instantly. Hold the heat source close to the surface to get rid of all the eggs. This will also help kill any bed bugs hiding in the cracks and crevices.
Bleach
Bleach is another common household item that can help get rid of bed bug eggs. It’s a powerful disinfectant and can kill bed bug eggs. You can use a sponge or cotton ball to apply bleach to the eggs. Make sure to wear gloves while doing this. However, it’s a potent substance that smells bad and causes discoloration.
Therefore, the best course to go about bleach is to use it in the laundry. Add a cup of bleach to your washing machine along with your bedding. This will help kill the bed bugs or eggs hiding in there.
Vinegar
You have this instant solution sitting on your kitchen shelf. Vinegar is an acidic substance and can kill bed bugs and their eggs on contact. Soak a cotton ball in vinegar and apply it to the bed bug eggs. This will help kill them instantly. You can also utilize a spray bottle to apply vinegar to the affected areas. For an affordable, readily available solution, vinegar is the way to go.
Extremely Cold Water
Like high temperatures, bed bugs can give out when exposed to freezing temperatures. So put this to your advantage and get rid of the bed bugs. Rinse your bedding, carpet, and clothes in icy water. You can also use a freezer set at -17.7 °C (0 °F) or below for a few days to kill the bed bugs.
Insecticide Dust
If you want to go the chemical route, you can use insecticide dust. Insecticide dust is a powerful substance and, when applied well, can keep bed bugs away for years. You can apply this dust to any cracks and crevices in your room. Use a duster to apply the dust to hard-to-reach places. However, make sure to wear gloves while doing this.
Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol can also kill bed bugs and their eggs on contact. It includes isopropyl alcohol which is a powerful substance. Although it’s not lethal compared to other items on the list, it works quite efficiently. It can help you get rid of adult bed bugs and their eggs up to some level. Spray the alcohol on the bed bugs and their eggs. You can also soak a cotton ball and apply it to the affected areas.
