How Long Does It Take for Bedbug Eggs to Hatch and Need to Feed

You may wonder how long it will take for bed bug eggs to hatch, especially if you want to do a thorough treatment. The hard truth is that it does not take much time. As long as optimal conditions like temperature, food, and protection are present, bed bug eggs can hatch very quickly. But how long does it take for bed bug eggs to hatch?

As parasites, bed bugs have evolved to be quick breeders to survive. They have a short generation time—that is, they need a short time to grow from egg to adult. This has helped them to quickly spread and establish themselves in many areas all over the world.

In about 14 days, the bed bug population in a home can double if the homeowner is not aware of them. This is why you need to do regular checks around your house, at least once in two months. This is part of the reason bed bug infestations spread so quickly!

Some treatments can get rid of both eggs and adults, while others can only kill the adult forms. It is usually better to go for treatments that eliminate all life forms—whether egg, nymph, or adult.

What You Need To Know About Bed Bug Eggs

Female bed bugs are prolific. They can lay about 5-10 eggs in a day. And, within 10 days, they can lay up to 100 to 150 eggs. Female bed bugs need to be well-fed before they can develop and lay many eggs. So, they are most active to take sufficient blood meals from their host. An average female bed bug can lay eggs every day for a year if she keeps feeding daily.

Female bed bugs lay their eggs singly or in clumps. They prefer laying in hidden places, like bed frame joints, and thin walk cracks. Eggs are minute, oval, and cream-colored. The color and small size of the eggs make them difficult to be noticed. You will need a magnifying glass to see the eggs. They are also sticky and can be easily carried to new locations.

Bed bug eggs have a relatively high chance of surviving and more than 90% of bed bug eggs will hatch successfully.

At favorable temperatures, bed bug eggs will hatch into small cream-colored nymphs within 2-4 days. If the temperature is unfavorable, it may take 5-10 days. In cold places, eggs can stay dormant for long periods. Bed bug nymphs molt five times before they mature. In the space of 4-5 weeks, these nymphs will develop into mature adults.

How Long Can Bed Bug Eggs Stay Viable?

Bed bug eggs can stay viable for about 10-12 days before they hatch. In good temperatures they hatch faster, in unfavorable temperatures, they hatch slower.

High temperatures can kill bed bug eggs. This method is employed in heat treatments. High temperatures are created in an enclosed place for a long period to kill bed bug eggs. The method is repeated after 5-10 days, because some resistant bed bug eggs may still be present.

What Conditions Do Bed Bug Eggs Need to Hatch?

Bed bug eggs do not need much to hatch. Once the optimum temperature, nutrients, time, and humidity are available, then they proceed to hatch. Other internal factors like biological clock are also required.

Temperature affects the time it takes for bed bug eggs to begin hatching. The best temperature for hatching is about 23-36°C (75-80 ° F). Warmer temperatures and longer time will lead to faster and more successful hatching. While colder temperatures will slow down hatching.

Bed bugs will reproduce more often if they are well-fed, but bed bugs can survive without food for a long time, so they can still exist even if they aren't reproducing.

Factors That Prevent Bed Bug Eggs From Hatching

Just as there aren't many requirements to hatch, there also aren't many factors that can prevent hatching. Of course, the temperature is the ultimate factor that can halt hatching and kill the eggs.

Bed bug eggs will not survive high temperatures of about 47-50°C (118-122°F). When using the heat treatment method, this temperature must be maintained for a minimum of 120 minutes for it to be effective.

The downside of heat treatment is that the heat can damage some furniture, varnish, and furnishings.

How to Tell If Bed Bug Eggs Eggs Have Already Hatched

It is important to keep track of bed bug infestations in your home. So you know whether it is increasing or not. Hatched bed bug eggs are a sign of an increased infestation, you'd want to know other indications too.

   Here are signs that bed bug eggs have hatched:

1. Feathery and Translucent Egg Cases

Freshly laid bed bug eggs are usually opaque, white, or creamy with a sticky surface. This surface on the egg case helps the egg stick to the surface and prevents unnecessary disturbances.

However, once the eggs hatch, the new nymphs leave behind egg cases that are usually translucent and feathery.

2. Lack of Characteristic Red Dots on The Egg

It is normal to see two red dots on an egg, under a magnifying glass or microscope. But if you don't see any red color, then the egg is probably hatched already

3. Flattened or Sunken Appearance

Empty egg cases will look flattened and hollow after nymphs emerge. They will also easily fall off from surfaces they use to stick to. because they've lost their stickiness.

4. When You Start Seeing Newly-Hatched Nymphs

Newly hatched bed bug nymphs are cream-colored and tiny (about the size of a sesame seed). They will immediately start feeding after they hatch, so you may come across them often. When with blood, the nymphs look wine red, although their head and legs remain transparent or white. New nymphs can start developing their first exoskeleton after their first meal.

5. Increasing Bites

The emergence of new nymphs will lead to an increase in bites. So, if you start experiencing an increase in the rate of bed bug bites, then it could be because of newly hatched nymphs.

Although new nymphs tend to bite once they're hatched, they can still survive without feeding for days, weeks, or even months. Older nymphs and adults can stay up to a year without feeding. So, the best method of ridding your home is not to avoid them, but to remove them.

Final Thoughts On How Long Does It Takes For Bed Bug Eggs To Hatch

Bed bugs are very prolific and a female can lay up to 10 eggs in a day.  It does not take long for bed bug eggs to hatch. Once laid, bed bug eggs will hatch within 6-10 days.

Temperature is an important factor that can affect egg survival. With optimum temperature, bed bug eggs will thrive. A high temperature of 47°C and above, will kill eggs. This is why heat treatment is effective in getting rid of bed bug infestations.

To know if a bed bug egg has hatched, look out for flat and translucent egg cases. The presence of newly hatched nymphs also indicates that the bug eggs have hatched.

I hope you've enjoyed this article on how long does it take for bed bugs to hatch, and I hope it was helpful!

Resources:

https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef636

millardsurpoked1982.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.thepestinformer.com/pest-guides/bed-bugs/how-long-does-it-take-for-bed-bug-eggs-to-hatch/

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