Shown below is a bed bug at different stages of development egg 5 nymphal stages and 2 adult bed bugs.
Different stages of bed bugs.
Bed bugs need at least one blood meal before the individual bug can develop to the next of the six life stages.
Egg bed bugs start their lives in eggs which has a milky white color to them.
2 nd stage nymph 2 mm.
In order to identify there are several generations of bed bugs in your home you need to be aware of what each stage looks like.
First is the egg which looks like a milky white grain of rice.
These wingless insects have dorsoventrally flattened bodies that allow them to hide in areas such as floor cracks carpets beds and upholstered furniture.
Bed bugs go through several stages of life until they reach adulthood.
They can feed more than once.
To continue to mate and produce eggs both males and females must feed at least once every 14 days.
3 rd stage nymph 2 5 mm.
1 st stage nymph 1 5 mm.
This entire image is the size of a penny 19mm and gives you an idea of the size at each stage.
Image will be uploaded soon.
This picture is from dong hwan choe university of california statewide integrated pest management program on bed bugs.
4 th stage nymph 3 mm.
Each stage also requires the molting of skin.
Bed bugs are nocturnal reddish brown insects that feed on the blood of humans and other warm blooded animals.
Bed bug life cycle.
Female bed bugs lay about five eggs daily throughout their adult lives in a sheltered location mattress seams crevices in box springs spaces under baseboards etc.
Eggs hatch in about 4 12 days into first instar nymphs which must take a blood meal before molting to the next stage.
During its lifetime a bed bug will go through the following stages starting from the top left moving counterclockwise.