Bed bugs are something that turns out to be the worst pest to deal with. Not just about biting, but also they spread like wildfire. In terms of adult bed bugs, they are easy to identify. Small, flat inspections, adult bed bugs are reddish-brown in color. While adult bed bugs are visible, it is just the opposite for baby bed bugs. They are more of offspring, extremely small and very difficult to see.
Also known as nymphs, bed bugs have four main stages of development –
Commencing in the form of eggs, they hatch into baby bed bugs (nymphs).
If you tend to notice a baby bed bug, be certain – growing infestation.
A warning sign is the adult bed bugs laying eggs which occurs only with regular blood meals.
They moult five times to become adults
This brings us to the question:
Can You See Baby Bed Bugs?
The fully-grown baby bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed. They are dark brown or red in colour. A baby bed bug is mainly the smaller version of an adult bed bug. Though being pretty small, baby bed bugs are visible to the naked eye. They tend to get larger when they moult.
The question again stands: can you see baby bed bugs? And the answer is a YES!
It is a myth that you will not be able to see a baby bed bug. Or that you need a magnifier for the same. Because that is not needed even though it is too small.
What Do Baby Bed Bugs Look Like?
Here are some of the characteristics that you could easily understand on how they look like –
They are about 1/4th inch long.
Now, right after they hatch, it becomes difficult to spot.
But if you are patient enough, you will be able to see them.
Just like the colour of their eggs, baby bed bugs are mostly white. Now, this becomes a little difficult in spotting the baby bed bugs on white sheets or furniture.
Before the colour gets darker, they go through some stages. To grow and develop, baby bed bugs often need feeding.
Once that occurs, you will get to review the blood in their abdomen. It is due to their exoskeleton being very thin, almost translucent.
Once they are fed, they digest blood, before moulting. The growing development stage takes 2-3 weeks.
They need to have 5 meals to mature. As they start to digest blood, they turn their colour into brown. And further through the other stages.
Once they have reached the 5th and final stage of development –
They turn brown from all nutrients collected from blood.
When fed as adults, they have red tints on their bodies.
What Does It Mean When You See Baby Bed Bugs?
When you get to see baby bed bugs, there are higher chances of you having an infestation. Nymphs pin-point of having an infestation with the females laying eggs. Furthermore, it could possibly mean that adult bed bugs are fed on a human host. This will make the bed more uncomfortable to lie on. Because of this problem, it is highly important for homeowners to know and identify nymphs in the first place. You need to eradicate the problem.
Where Do Baby Bed Bugs Hide?
If they are not on the stage of feeding, baby bed bugs hide in different places. Talking around the bed, then they will be seen near the seams, piping as well as the tags of the mattress. This further includes the cracks on the bed frame and headboard.
If the room gets pretty much infested, you will find baby bed bugs –
In the drawer joints
In the electrical receptacles and appliances
At the epicentre of the loose wallpaper and the ceiling meet
Head of the screw
Seams of the bed, chair, couches, between cushions, in the folds of the curtains
Since bed bugs are the size of the width of the credit card, they can squeeze through small hiding spots. If a crack is holding a credit card, it could hide a bed bug.
Behaviour & Habit
When you are trying to understand the behaviour of bed bugs, you will get to know and find an infestation before it becomes all the more established. Monitor the presence of the bed bugs for the presence of bed bugs after your home has been undergone treatment.
Feeding –
Appear to feed on humans, but they feed on humans. They further feed on birds and other mammals.
Travels in a distance of 5-20 feet to feed on the host.
They are mostly active during the night. If they are hungry, they find the host in full daylight as well.
Feeding on the host takes 3-12 minutes.
They are mostly found on the rusty bed sheet or places where bugs can be hidden.
How can you get rid of baby bed bugs?
Being amazing hitchhikers, baby bed bugs move from an infested area to a new home. They travel through furniture, bedding, luggage, clothing and even boxes. They typically feed on blood every 5 to 10 days. Being pretty resilient, baby bed bugs have the capability of surviving months to even a year without feeding.
How to Get Rid of Baby Bed Bugs?
Here are some of the precautions helping in preventing baby bed bug infestation in your home –
First and foremost, review secondhand furniture, beds and couches for any sign of baby bed bugs infestation before bringing it home.
Make sure you are using a protective covering for the enclosure of mattresses and box springs. Make sure to eliminate many hiding spots. Light colour encasement helps in reviewing baby bed bugs. Make sure that you are purchasing top-notch quality encasement. This will prevent tearing. The best ones have the pesticide to control the havoc of infestation.
Do not clutter your home too much. Spaces lead to letting your house or your home breathe in. It further helps in the reduction of hiding places for bed bugs.
Frequently vacuum corners and places where potential infestation could occur.
Be careful of using your laundry facilities. Transport items should be shipped in bags. Remove the dryer directly into the bag and conduct the folding at home.
If you are living in a big home, install door sweeps on the bottom of the door for discouraging movement to the hallways. Also, make sure of sealing the cracks and crevices to discourage any movement through the wall.
You can even consider purchasing a portable heating chamber to treat any items that will or might cause baby bed bugs.
Bottom Line
If you see the rise in infestation and cannot find a solution by yourself, seek the help of professionals. You can anytime seek help from professional infestation services online or via contacts through your friends and families. It is important to keep things and your home to breathe in free and avoid any movement of such infestation.
