The Appearance of Bed Bugs
An adult bed bug is normally 5–7 mm to a quarter of an inch long — approximately the size of an apple seed. Their bodies are oval, flat, and brown in color. Bed bugs that have recently fed on blood are more reddish in color and balloon-like in shape. They have a distinct musty odor that can let you know of an infestation.
In the bed bug lifespan, younger bed bugs are called nymphs and are smaller in size and normally translucent or whitish-yellow. Due to their transparent body, they can sometimes be invisible to the human eye. They will be more visible if they have recently fed, in which case their bodies will be red instead.
It is extremely important to know what a bed bug looks like so as not to confuse it with another pest. The most similar-looking pest to the bed bug is head lice, but they are completely different in terms of how much damage they cause and how to exterminate them.
The Bed Bug Feeding Cycle
In the bed bug life cycle, it begins with the egg hatching. Once the egg hatches, the nymph emerges, which then goes through five more stages before finally becoming an adult bed bug. The nymph, although much smaller than the adult bed bug, has a very similar feeding pattern. Unless they feed a lot, they will not be able to grow.
You may think depriving them of food will get rid of them. Unfortunately, even if you decide to sleep elsewhere for the time being, bed bugs can go on living for a long time before they starve. Bed bugs develop hunger bubbles inside themselves which help them stay alive and not die from starvation.
The Bed Bug Life Cycle
The life cycle of a bed bug starts with an egg, which is around 1 to 1.5 mm in length. This egg then hatches into a nymph. In the next five stages, the nymphs will grow larger as they molt in every stage after a blood meal. The nymph also grows an extra 0.5mm as it passes each stage, eventually becoming the adult bed bug at around 5 to 5.5 mm in length.
Once the adult is formed, it continues to take in blood meals in order to grow even more. The female bed bug can lay up to 5 eggs in a single day. This is the primary reason behind their fast reproduction — they can take over your house in no time.
The biggest challenge with bed bugs is that they are extremely difficult to eliminate entirely. No matter what you do, some always remain. This makes it important to call in professional exterminators for the job. When it comes to exterminating bed bugs, you cannot go in halfway. Make sure to get all upholstery checked and replaced if you wish to get rid of them entirely.
Professional Bed Bug Treatment
At Rest Easy Pest Control, we offer a free quote and effective treatment options including heat treatment and targeted applications. Call us at 888-927-9842 for fast, professional help. Don't let bed bugs disrupt your sleep — act quickly at the first sign of an infestation.