Bed Bug Eggs - Often Blamed for Failed Eradication

 Magnified photograph of viable (unhatched) bed bug eggs. You can see the little end 'plug' which is where the nymph crawls out of the egg upon hatching.  

(photo by Brittany Delong from Virginia Tech)

This post will focus on the eggs of the bed bug. Often times bed bug eggs are cited and blamed as a reason for failed treatments for bed bug infestations. Not all insecticides used on bed bug infestations are capable of killing the eggs. Additionally, many eggs seem to survive heat and cold treatments, but this is not necessarily due to the eggs being stronger than a live bed bug. Research suggests that instead, bed bug eggs often survive treatments due to their placement in very protected locations. 

The female bed bug deposits her eggs in protected places, even very tight places such as tiny crevices and cracks no wider than the thickness of a razor blade. Some of the most common places eggs are laid are the inside the box springs and the coils of a bed, also behind peeling wallpaper, in closets and along or behind baseboards. In such areas, an exterminator's treatment may not reach the hidden eggs well enough to kill them. 

An adult female typically lays up to 5 eggs per day depositing them in a wide variety of locations, both on and away from a bed. An adult female may lay up to 500 eggs during her lifetime. 

 Adult bed bug on a shred of paper, with 3 unhatched eggs next to it.

(Photo by T. Nakamura, Kilohana K9s)

There is not alot known about the make-up of bed bug eggs. However we do know the following facts; 

• Eggs hatch approximately 7-10 days after being deposited by the female, but the timing of the hatching depends quite a bit on the air temperature. The eggs do not need a mother around to hatch.
• When the eggs are laid, a glue-like material covers them allowing them to adhere to the surface they are laid on. They are attached quite well, requiring the use of a stiff brush to dislodge them. After hatching occurs, the eggshells frequently remain stuck in place.
• The eggs are very tiny and sort of whitish, almost clear in color. They are very hard to see without magnification, especially on light-colored surfaces.  

Bed bug eggshells, after nymphs have hatched. 

Research has shown that with 'cold treatments' it may take 15 days at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) to kill bed bug adults and 30 days to kill bed bug eggs.  The use of a steamer kills both bed bugs and eggs on contact. Once again, if the eggs are not able to be reached due to their placement, then the steam cannot kill them. All life stages of bed bugs (adult, larva, and eggs) die within minutes at an air temperature of 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius). At this high temperature they will 'dry up', so to speak. 

 Close up of 3 eggs laid on a shred of paper. The tip of the pencil is pointing towards them and is shown for size comparison. 

(Photo by T. Nakamura, Kilohana K9s)

Here are newly hatched nymphs (the pencil tip is pointing to them) next to the egg shells (now empty due to the hatching). As you can see, when they first hatch, the nymphs are nearly transparent and just slightly larger than the eggs (these nymphs are about 4-5 days old). Until they feed for the first time, they will be very difficult to spot with the naked eye.

(photo by T. Nakamura, Kilohana K9s) 

 Development of the newly hatched bed bug (called a nymph) to adulthood takes approximately 1 ½ - 2 months but it can take longer depending upon the environmental conditions and food availability.