Understanding the Reproduction Cycle of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are now definitely a great concern of both homeowners and business owners in the United States. They do not only feast on the people’s blood; they also cause havoc on the wallet of those who have bed bug infestation since treatments do not come cheap at all.

These annoying bugs are actually easy to kill - the only problem is their tiny size. Since bed bugs look like tiny apple seeds, they can hide in cracks and crevices that we usually don’t think twice as their potential hiding places. They are also smart enough to hitch rides from people who have just come from vacations or visits to places infested with bed bugs. They cling to almost everything - from luggage, clothing, furniture, and even books.

How Do Bed Bugs Multiply?
The bed bug reproduction process is a bizarre one. It is called traumatic insemination because the male bed bug injects sperm cell by creating a wound on the female’s abdomen. Since the process inflicts trauma to the female, it will try to move away from locations where there are males to avoid mating again.

This process pushes females to hitchhike on personal belongings like bags and clothes. Bringing a pregnant bed bug to your home or office is the surest way to start an infestation!

Female bed bugs lay white, spherical eggs in cracks and crevices. It can lay up to 250 eggs in its lifetime. The eggs usually hatch after 6 to 10 days. The newly emerged nymph then seek a blood meal by biting the head, neck, arms, hands, and legs of its host. They need to have at least one blood meal before each molting period.

Immature nymphs shed their exoskeleton five times before they reached adulthood. In general, bed bugs leave from two to four months under normal circumstances. Usually, there are three or more generations of bed bugs each year.

The Jersey City Exterminators is dedicated to protecting all living spaces from pests like bed bugs. If you found yourself being bugged by this annoying pest, contact us for our professional bed bug remediation service.