Baby bed bugs are a growing problem in the whole world. An infestation means that the bed bugs are breeding, and you will likely see baby bed bugs and eggs.
As a result, you might have many questions about baby bed bugs. What do baby bed bugs look like? What are the colors of bed bugs? How big are they? Do baby bed bugs bite? Etc.
It is important to know how to identify the signs of bed bugs, as they are very difficult to get rid of. Baby bed bugs are usually found in the crevices and cracks of furniture and walls, and there is no complete way to exterminate them.
Continue reading to find more about baby bed bugs.
What do Baby Bed Bugs Look Like?
Baby bed bugs are a common household pest that can be difficult to eliminate. They are small, reddish-brown in color, and hard to spot. They typically lay eggs in clusters and can infest an area quickly.
If you think you may have a bed bug infestation, it is important to contact a professional right away.
As a result, if you see small, flattened bugs no bigger than a grain of rice crawling around your bed or furniture- the chances are good that you’re dealing with baby bed bugs or nymphs.
Keep in mind that adult bed bugs can feed on human hosts, so don’t disregard any bites you might be experiencing.
Nymphs, or baby bed bugs, are white, and their shells are very soft. If homeowners know what to look for in baby bed bugs, they can get them killed. Bed bug nymphs do not go through a metamorphosis like other insects.
It means that they look very similar to adult bed bugs. After eating, their abdomens expand because of the food consumed.
Like many other pests, bed bugs are not always visible to the naked eye. To identify baby bed bugs, you need a microscope to observe them.
Another difficulty in identifying baby bed bugs is that they look very similar to adult bed bugs, so there is no viable method of distinguishing nymphs from adults.
The Size of Baby Bed Bugs (Life Cycle)
Like other baby creatures, baby bed bugs go through five stages of development before they become adults.
In each stage, they get progressively bigger. They can be distinguished from adult bed bugs by their smaller size and lighter color. Baby bed bugs might also have a different bite pattern than the adults.
When baby bed bugs are newly hatched, they go through growth phases. In the first phase, they are very small and difficult to see. They are about the size of a poppy seed. In the second stage, the baby bed bugs are half of the size of the adults, from the abdomen to the head.
In the third stage of their life cycle, baby bed bugs are about two times smaller than adult ones but have the same size and shape. They can be identified by their color, which is generally lighter than adults.
Baby bed bugs may also bite humans, although their bites are not as severe as adult bed bugs.
The different nymph life stages in sizes:
- First Stage – 1.5 mm
- Second Stage – 2 mm
- Third Stage – 2.5 mm
- Fourth Stage – 3 mm
- Fifth Stage – 4.5 mm
The Color of Baby Bed Bugs (Nymphs Bug)
Newly hatched baby bed bugs, or nymphs, are about the size of a poppy seed and are white. As they start to digest blood and grow, they turn light brown. The eggs are the same color as the nymphs when they first hatch.
Interestingly, the brownish color of baby bed bugs is caused by their consumption of blood. As they grow older and feed on a host more regularly, their color will become darker and darker.
Once bedbugs mature, they never go back to their white color. They will always be a light brown, mahogany, or black color. Additionally, the size of a bed bug baby is about 1/16 of an inch long when they are newly hatched. They will grow to be about 1/4 of an inch long as adults.
Lastly, baby bed bugs may not cause any bites immediately, but people may start to see bite marks within two weeks after being bitten.
Bed bug eggs
Bed bug eggs are tiny, about 1mm in width. They are white or light yellow and are often difficult to see. Eggs are laid by the female bed bug and will hatch into nymphs within ten days.
Bed bug eggs are tiny, about 1mm in size, and light brownish color. They attach to surfaces with a cement-like substance which makes them difficult to remove. Female bed bugs lay around 500 eggs during their lifetime.
Where Do Baby Bed Bugs Live?
Baby bed bugs are notorious for being difficult to get rid of. They can hide in many different places and often go undetected.
Bed bugs can live in various places, including mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, carpets, baseboards, curtains, furniture, clothing, and even electronics.
Bed bugs, especially baby bed bugs, are flat and small in size, making them difficult to spot. They can be of various colors, including light brown, tan, and red. Additionally, they can bite humans, resulting in itchy welts on the skin.
Like their adult counterparts, baby bed bugs are drawn to the warmth and the carbon dioxide given off by their hosts. They are also attracted to smells, so they tend to live in areas where people spend a lot of time, like bedrooms and couches.
How To You Know If You Have Baby Bed Bugs?
Unlike adults, baby bed bugs are easy to spot because they leave blood spots on sheets or fabric. In addition, you may see tiny rust-colored spots on the sheet or fabric if the baby bed bugs have been feeding.
The smaller bed bugs baby, or nymphs, need to feed on human blood to get the energy they need to live and grow. When they do feed, they leave behind blood spots. If you see these blood spots on your sheets or around your bed, you likely have a baby bed bug infestation.
When individuals have a bed bug infestation in their home, they may see baby bed bugs. Additionally, baby bed bugs can cause skin irritation and redness.
If you are unsure whether or not you have baby bed bugs, it is best to consult with a professional. They leave behind discarded skins or exoskeletons that have a paper-like appearance.
If you see black spots or mattress stains on your sheets or in the creases of your cushion, you likely have baby bed bugs.
Do Baby Bed Bugs Bite? (Feeding)
Bed bugs, including baby bed bugs, are small parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. They are mostly present in beds, where they can easily bite you while you sleep.
Baby bed bugs are just as capable of biting and sucking blood as adults and can cause similar reactions. They can’t live without a host. They need to be near humans to survive. They have a straw that they drink through and a tool for opening holes in the skin so that they can suck on blood.
Baby bed bugs are very small and can be difficult to see. Like other insects, they do not have any teeth or mouthparts, so they rely on their sucking mouthparts to feed. They also do not bite humans as adults do, but they may bite infants and young children.
What Baby Bed Bug Bites Look Like?
Bed bug bites are quite similar to other insect bites. The most common symptom of baby bed bug bites is a skin reactions, swelling, and redness around the area. The body’s histamine reaction causes an allergic response, leading to inflammation and irritation.
The baby bed bug bites look very similar to adult bed bugs. They cause swelling and redness in the area bitten and a histamine reaction that creates an itch that can last as long as adults.
Prevention of Baby Bed Bugs (Treatment for Adult Bed Bugs and Young Bed Bugs)
Bed bugs are a common problem, and they can be brought into your home through personal belongings or luggage after a stay at a hotel.
If you think you have an infestation, it is important to remove eggs, adults, and baby bed bugs as quickly as possible. To prevent baby bed bugs, inspect all second-hand clothing and furniture before bringing it inside your home.
Bed bugs can hitch a ride on these items and quickly infest your home if you’re not careful. Be sure to check for any signs of bed bugs, including eggs, droppings, and shed skins.
Heat treatment can help you. Insecticides, filling water in their hiding place or shelter, can help get rid of bed bugs.
Do Nymphs Crawl In Your Home?
Though bed bugs generally do not run when seen, they can move quickly if they need to hide. They will mainly try to crawl away and hide in a crack or crevice.
It is important to check for bed bugs regularly to catch them early and treat the problem before it becomes worse. The legs of bed bugs are short and stubby, which means they cannot travel as fast as other insects.
They rarely travel at full speed. If you see a bed bug on the move, it’s likely crawling very slowly. Nymphs are baby bed bugs, and they do not crawl as fast as adults.
They are quite slow as they have not yet developed their full defense mechanism. Nymphs come out mainly at night to avoid threats and feed on blood.
Conclusion
It is very unlikely to find nymphs in isolation in a new environment. Nymphs are young bed bugs, and they have not yet reached their adult stage, so they are smaller and hard to see than adult bed bugs. If you think you may have a bed bug infestation, it is more likely that you will be dealing with a full-scale infestation.
Interestingly, a few signs can tip you off to baby bed bugs. Hitching on the pants, legs, topcoats, or luggage of people as they move around is one sign. Additionally, new generations of bed bugs are working their way through their life cycles and into adulthood, so be careful!