Bed bug eggs are deceptively simple to spot.
They’re nearly invisible to the naked eye and are easy to dispose of. However, they’re more than just a mere nuisance.
When allowed to incubate, their tiny, fragile embryos can trigger seriouss in your dermatologist’s office. So, are bed bugs eggs hard or soft?
On the one hand, bed bugs eggs are quite soft to the touch. However, they’re anything but fragile.
When exposed to moisture or sunlight, they harden into a solid shell that you can break with your hands or accidentally step on and crack open. Even after hatching, bed bugs eggs are resistant to most chemicals.
However, they can be easily disposed of in an airtight plastic bag in a freezer for several hours to several days.
Let’s dive in now.
Are Bed Bug Eggs Hard or Soft?
Contents
Bed bugs are pests that are difficult to get rid of with DIY methods or over-the-counter chemical sprays.
Squeezing them with practically minimal pressure may cause extremely painful welts on your body.
Furthermore, under a microscope, bedbug eggs resemble tiny grains of oatmeal with smooth edges.
These eggs are so small that you barely notice them on your sheets or mattress until you step on them and break one open.
Are Bed Bug Eggs Hard Like Rice?
Although they have the same color and size as rice grains, bed bug eggs are hard and hollow on the inside.
Rice is a starchy grain that’s a staple in most homes around the world.
If you attempt to crush an uncooked rice grain between your fingers, you’ll notice that it’s soft and yields to the pressure you apply to it.
You can’t do this with a typical bed bug egg, however.
A grain will migrate out from its core when you press on it.
It may even shatter in the process, but the rice grain’s insides don’t come out in the chaos.
The texture of bed bug eggs is somewhere between hard and brittle.
Like bed bug nymphs, they’re able to take up water and nutrients inside their shells and hatch after soaking in a liquid.
The eggs have gray or white coloring, and they’re usually laid in clusters on or near your bed’s headboard or box springs.
The fluid from which the bed bug eggs hatch is called a “pupal fluid” and contains nutrients for the bed bug eggs to hatch in.
The egg’s shell is impermeable to water, but it’s perfectly capable of absorbing the fluid within through its pores.
You might smash it with your foot while you’re rushing to get dressed in the morning.
Squashing bed bug eggs, on accident or on purpose, means that you’ll crush the Pupal fluid the bed bugs need to survive.
What do Bed Bug Eggs Look Like?
A group of adult women laughing while eating dinner at home.
These eggs appear somewhat like a dust speck when initially deposited on the bedding.
These eggs are aggregated together in large numbers on single items or in clusters on beddings.
Where Can You See Bed Bug Eggs?
Bed bugs are known for hiding in and behind a variety of places around your sleeping area, and one of the most prevalent spots for bed bugs can be found in your headboard.
Bed bugs put their eggs in clusters on the headboard because they need the warmth to stay dormant and hidden from you.
Because these eggs are so vital to the survival of the bed bugs, they will by the very definition of survival be placed in the most protected locations possible.
The eggs are tiny enough to easily pass through your vacuum cleaner, so if you have a vacuum cleaner, make sure to clean it often.
This is why the majority of bed bugs can be rendered ineffective without the use of chemicals beyond vacuuming and heat treatment.
What Do Bed Bug Eggs Look Like After They Hatch?
Hatched eggs are not broken at breaking but are so small it is not possible to differentiate them from dust or dirt specks without magnification or with a lighted magnifying glass.
These eggs may be found in your child’s bed as well, but particularly in your mattress.
Do Bed Bug Eggs Crumble when Squashed?
Bed bugs are notoriously known for hatching out of just about anything, however, the eggs are not strong enough to peel or break apart.
People often mistake them for crumbs or dust; however, they are not as common as they appear and their numbers can be greatly reduced by keeping organized and clean.
Bed bugs are biologically alive 6 to 8 months.
Bed bug eggs crush and squish when handled or squashed, but they do not disintegrate.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Eggs Naturally
Vacuum Cleaner
You may be able to eliminate the egg by vacuuming them out.To get rid of bed bug eggs naturally, vacuum them up with a vacuum cleaner fitted with a crevice tool and a fine-brush attachment (such as a brush for the upholstery head).
Begin by vacuuming the cracks and crevices around the bed where the bed bugs may be hiding—this is where they tend to lay their eggs. Next, vacuum the bed frame and headboard of your bed by starting in the corners and moving the vacuum cleaner along in a zigzag pattern to avoid missing any eggs or bed bugs that may be hiding in tight spots or cracks.
Finally, vacuum any upholstered furniture in the room, paying special attention to any high spots on the furniture where bed bugs may hide.
Use Steam
The high temperature from steam can be an effective method of killing bed bugs and their eggs.
Heat is also needed to kill bed bug eggs naturally because bed bugs cannot tolerate heat over 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit).
Steaming is the safest and most effective method of killing bed bugs and their eggs.
Use Alcohol
Every bed bug’s life comes to an end when they come into contact with alcohol, and this includes when they come into contact with alcohol in the form of a spray, cream or lotion and when it evaporates.
It acts as a desiccant, sucking moisture out of the bed bug’s body, killing them and preventing repopulation.
If you apply alcohol on a certain area, the bed bugs may die where they land after crawling there, and immediately dry up and die after alcohol evaporates.
Also See: Can Bed Bugs Live On Hard Surfaces?
Conclusion
The key to getting rid of bed bugs eggs naturally is prevention. If you can identify bed bugs eggs early enough and prevent them from developing into adults or nymphs, you can eliminate an infestation before it starts. You can accomplish this by following a few simple steps above.
So, bed bugs are hazardous and difficult to exterminate without the help of a professional pest control company.
The most practical approach to remove these pests is to prevent their breeding in the first place.
