Just born baby bed bugs, which are also known as bed bug nymphs, are terrible biters.
These sneaky, and almost invisible, bed bugs will bite you, just like their parents or adult bed bugs.
This guide reveals why do baby bed bugs bite. And you’ll find answers to most asked questions related to bed bug nymphs.
Keep reading.
Why Baby Bed Bugs Bite?
Like adult bed bugs, baby bed bugs need bloodmeals to survive and to proceed further in their lifecycle stages.
Baby bed bugs can’t survive for more than a few weeks if they don’t get bloodmeals.
In contrast, an adult bed bug can easily survive for more than 4 months without a blood meal.
That’s why the first job for bed bug nymphs after hatching out of the bed bug eggs is to look for a human host to bite and feed on the blood.
Bed bug nymphs will molt for six times and go through five in-star stages before they reach adulthood ready to breed and lay eggs.
In-stars are the stages of development of the bed bug nymphs. In each stage, the baby bed bugs molt to cast off their existing exoskeleton to accommodate a new and bigger exoskeleton.
These shed bed bug skins, which are also known as bed bug shells, show up in the home as one of the tell-tale sign of bed bug infestation.
The development stages of baby bed bugs wouldn’t be possible if they don’t feed on human blood.
Where Do Baby Bugs Bite?
Baby bed bugs will target the same regions on your body just like their parents.
Any exposed skin on your body is a target for baby bed bugs to insert their mouth parts and draw blood.
However, like the adult bed bugs, baby bed bugs too can’t bite through clothing.
Are Baby Bed Bug Bites Smaller?
Baby bed bug bites are neither smaller nor bigger than adult bed bug bites.
Baby bed bugs, just like the adults, will inject their saliva into your bloodstream to prevent the blood from clotting.
The bed bug saliva is the reason for allergic reactions on the skin that show up after the bites.
What Do Baby Bed Bug Bites Look Like?
Baby bed bug bites look like raised bumps in the skin in clusters or in a straight line.
In fact, they look like the bite marks from adult bed bugs.
Baby bed bugs will also bite multiple times on the body before they get access to the veins to draw their blood. That causes the bite marks to appear in clusters.
What Do Baby Bed Bugs Look Like?
Baby bed bugs are miniature versions of adult bed bugs. They’re oval-shaped with six legs.
Newborn bed bugs are translucent white in color. And they’re only 1/20th of an inch in size.
But baby bed bugs will appear as a tiny red dot after having their bloodmeals. It’s because they’re translucent, you can see the blood they had.
Baby bed bugs aren’t typically microscopic bugs.
They’re so tiny that they can be hard to spot with a naked eye, especially on white or light-colored bed sheets.
Despite being tiny, these insects can land up big bites on humans.
Where Do Newborn Bed Bugs Hide?
Baby bed bugs hide in the places where the adult females lay their eggs.
So, mattresses, mattress seams, box springs, cracks and crevices on the bed frames, headboards, baseboards, dresser drawers, and picture frames are some of the common places where baby bed bugs hide.
They can also hide in the cracks on the walls, furniture, and in the wallpaper too when the bed bug infestation becomes too severe.
Soft furnishings like curtains, carpets, and couches can also be hiding places for baby bed bugs and their adult counterparts.
What Do Bed Bug Eggs Look Like?
The appearance of bed bug eggs changes with time. When they’re fresh, they look pearly white.
But over time, they start to look yellowish and develop a spot.
With a little bit of focus, you can notice the bed bugs. Generally, they’re not in the open.
The female bed bugs will lay their eggs inside the tight crevices near the bed.
But some may need a magnifying glass to ascertain if they’re bed bug eggs and not some speck of dust.
Is Itching One Of The Symptoms Of Baby Bed Bugs Bites?
Yes, baby bed bug bites are intensely itchy. Red rashes form on the skin and repeatedly scratching the bite wound can cause skin lesions, which may lead to infections.
The saliva that baby bed bugs and adult bed bugs insert in our bloodstream cause these allergic reactions.
Many people don’t react to the saliva, so, they don’t show any reactions to bed bug bites.
That’s why many people living in the same home, and sleeping on the same beds, don’t react to bed bug bites while the others do.
That can trick you into thinking that bed bugs are biting you but not the other persons.
To treat bed bug bites, treat the bite wound with ice and use anti-itching cream like antihistamine.
Are Baby Bed Bugs Parasitic Pests?
Yes, like the fleas, mosquitoes, and adult bed bugs, baby bed bugs are also parasitic pests that survive on their hosts’ blood.
Do You Need A Pest Controller To Get Rid Of Baby Bed Bugs?
Yes, hire a pest controller or bed bug exterminator to get rid of baby bed bugs. Baby bed bugs are a sign of bed bug infestation that has spread widely in your home.
It’s a clear indication that the adult bed bugs are breeding and laying their eggs.
In the mean time, vacuum clean your bed, wash your bed linen with hot water, and take preventive measures to protect yourself from bed bug bites.
But the more long-term solution is to prevent bed bugs from entering your home. They’re able hitchhikers, and they latch onto clothes and luggage to travel from one place to another.
Will A Steam Cleaner Kill Baby Bed Bugs In Bed?
Yes, steam cleaners produce heat to the extent of 140 deg F that bed bugs in all life stages can’t resist.
Steam cleaner cleans your bed and also kills the adult bed bugs, baby bed bugs, and bed bug eggs in the bed.
Dr. Thomas Orbert is a PhD in Entomology with extensive research experience in ectoparasites and microbials. He has also worked in the spaces of ecology conservation and has multiple years of experience in field research and scientific publishing.