Home  /  Other Pests  /  Bed Bugs  /  Bedbug Life Stages 

Bedbug Life Stages

Bedbugs are nocturnal, brown insects that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. These wingless insects have dorsoventrally-flattened bodies that allow them to hide in areas such as floor cracks, carpets, beds and upholstered furniture.

A bedbug's life begins with an egg, grain-like and milky-white in color. Female bedbugs lay between five and 12 eggs each day and may lie up to five hundred eggs within one lifetime. Eggs are laid singly or in clusters and are placed within tight cracks or crevices. The egg is approximately one millimeter in length and is comparable in size to two grains of salt. Within two weeks, eggs hatch and immature bedbugs begin immediately to feed.

These young bedbugs, or nymphs, pass through five molts before reaching maturity. Although nymphs appear similar to adults, they are smaller in size and are not yet sexually mature. Nymphs are also yellow-white in color, while adults are reddish-brown. In order to complete a molting stage, each nymph requires a blood meal. At room temperature, nymphs molt and become adults within five weeks.

Upon reaching maturity, bedbug adults require weekly feedings. The life span of a bedbug most commonly ranges from four to six months. However, some bedbugs may live for years.

Anatomy of a Bedbug

Insects Resembling Bedbugs