Bed Bug Resources
Bed bugs will feed five times before becoming an adult.
Each meal (3-7 days apart) will be followed by a "molt" of their skin.
When a female reaches adulthood she is ready to begin laying 3-5 eggs every day. Females can continue laying eggs for a couple months without another meal.
Eggs can take from 7 to 15 days to hatch, depending on conditions such as temperature.
How Fast Can Bed Bugs Move
Adults can crawl about 4 ft/minute
Nymphs can crawl about 1 ft/minute
That's 2½ minutes for an adult to make it from a TV stand to the pillow, 10 minutes for a nymph (University of Texas)
Newly hatched bed bugs can live for several months in ideal conditions without a first meal.
Temperature and life span for bed bugs
Temperature affects bed bug life-span
At 98.6 F (37° C), females live an average of 32 days while males live an average of 29 days (Johnson 1942, Usinger 1966)At 50 F (10° C), females live an average of 425 days while males live an average of 401 days (Johnson 1942, Usinger 1966)
Females can lay between 200 and 500 eggs in their lifetime
(Johnson 1942, Usinger 1966)
Not many pesticides labeled for bed bugs kill bed bug eggs, with the exception of Bedlam.
Bed Bug Sniffing Dogs Portland
What’s Working for Bed Bug Control in Multifamily Housing
Bed Bugs Clearly Visible on Screw Head Under Chair (photo)
From Entomologist Lou SorkinExcellent Advice if You Have Bed Bugs
Pest World's Bed Bug Resource List
University of Minnesota: Bed Bugs in Residences
Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Bed Bugs in Shelters and Group Living Facilities
Multnomah County Public Health listserve forum
