Laying the Eggs
A female bed bug first lays her eggs, white and oval in shape, in folds or crevices of furniture, often a bed (hence the name). The eggs have a sticky outer shell that helps them adhere to surfaces. Females are capable of laying six to 12 eggs daily in clusters as large as 50.
The Nymph Is Born
After about one to two weeks, the bed bug egg hatches and a nymph is born. A nymph needs blood from humans, dogs, cats or any warm-blooded animal in order to shed its exoskeleton, a process known as molting. The nymph, as with all bed bugs, comes out to feed at night and hides during the day.
From Nymph to Adulthood
Once the nymph gets its first meal, it begins one of five molting processes it will go through to reach adulthood. The nymph is then an adult bed bug.
Adult Life Span
As an adult, bed bugs can live anywhere from nine to 18 months, depending on the environment,. The average life span is about a year.
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