Can bed bugs lay eggs in human skin?


Dave Campbell

You must be asking yourself if bed bugs can lay eggs in or under human skin and how safe you are if it is true. It is pretty accurate that bed bugs are scary and quite challenging to eradicate. Those who have had a bed bug infestation can attest to this. It is therefore normal to be curious. Do not worry, however. This article will look into this question and guide you appropriately.

So can bedbugs remain on skin?

The quick answer is no. Bed bugs rely on human blood for survival since they are parasites. However, when it comes to where they lay their eggs, these stubborn animals are quite fussy and pretty smart. The only relationship a bed bug and the human body have is feeding. When a bed bug bites and wants to feed, it creates tiny holes in the body from which it drinks your blood. You, however, cannot feel a bed bug bite because they first inject you with an anesthetic before releasing an anticoagulant, which ensures that your blood does not clot. As it feeds on its blood meal, it’s body will fill up and grow bigger. If you are wondering what the eggs look like, they are a white colour as shown in the picture below.

Bed bugs are pretty big, and therefore, the skin is not a conducive place for them to lay their eggs, which are also not as small. Their mouthparts are also not as developed, and therefore, it would be quite hard for them to bite through your clothing and into your skin to feed. These bugs are also pretty intelligent since they know that humans are highly mobile, and therefore, they and their eggs can get crushed anytime. In case of movement, their eggs are at a higher risk of falling off your skin.

If you have a red rash and wondering if it could be caused by bed bugs, it might be worth seeking treatment from a doctor to rule our other things such as lice or scabies, and get advice on ways to permanently remove bugs.

Other places of infestation

It is only logical for a bed bag to lay its egg anywhere around the home or in places they mostly frequent. These include the cracks in the edge of your bed or tiny holes around the room where they are generally at peace. Once you have a bug infestation, you will notice clusters of eggs around the edges of the mattress or the bed.

Just like we mentioned, a bed bug is pretty smart, and therefore before they commit to laying eggs, they first choose the place. In case you are wondering which criteria they use to find the right place to lay their eggs, here are two:

i) Easier access- they lay their eggs in locations that guarantee them easier access to their hosts, which in this case are humans. Why? This is because immediately after hatching, the baby nymph is expected to look for its meal, which is blood.It is therefore logical that the eggs are laid in places most frequented by humans, such as your mattress (they bore holes) or in tiny holes near your bed. Your seats can also be part of these laying areas since you spend a considerable amount of time on them.

ii)Peace– they prefer their laying locations to be peaceful with minimum disturbance. They will, therefore, choose areas where they are not easily disturbed, which is also a reason why they cannot lay their eggs in the human body. You will, therefore, find that their egg-laying spots are pretty hidden, although it is possible to find bed bug eggs in hair.

Bed bugs, therefore, have several options when it comes to their laying areas.

Here are the places to look:

i)Your sheets and pillowcases. A bed bug can comfortably lay eggs inside these two.

ii)Carpet- In case you have a thick floor carpet, kindly do check.

iii)Curtains- a bed bug can lay eggs in the fold of your curtains.

iv)Furniture- Check for the grooves.

v)Your electronic gadgets and toys.

vi)Walls- The cracks in the walls are usually very vulnerable when it comes to bed bug eggs.

The only crucial thing that you ought to have in mind is that bed bugs will only lay eggs where they are closer to the hosts. So, if it is a crack in the wall, be sure it will be an area that you sleep in or spend most of your time in.

FAQs

Do Bed Bugs stay on your skin after a shower?

Assuming you wash thoroughly, then no they can’t live on your skin after a shower. Bedbugs prefer other places to lives such as mattresses, furniture and crevices where they can hide.

Conclusion

Bed bugs are pretty stubborn. Have in mind, however, that they cannot lay eggs on human skin. In case you would like to eradicate them using baking powder, I highly suggest that you combine it with other means. If things get worse, then you may have to call in a professional to get rid of the insects and pests in your home.

Reference: https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/top-ten-tips-prevent-or-control-bed-bugs

 

Dave Campbell

I'm Dave Campbell and the owner of deadpestz.com. You can read more about me and my background on my About Me page.

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