Bed bugs are tiny insects that feed on the blood of animals and humans. They live in many environments, but they generally like to live close to their food source, which is why they are so often found in beds.
Bed bugs lay their eggs where they live, so homeowners often have questions about bed bug eggs. If you’ve been wondering, “Are bed bug eggs hard or soft?” the answer may surprise you.
The Shell of a Bed Bug Egg
Bed bug eggs are very small and easy to miss if you aren’t looking closely. They can also easily be mistaken for something else.
But are bed bug eggs hard, or are they soft? Bed bug eggs are soft and smooth. While they look like rice granules, they are not hard and can be difficult to pick up. The eggs are protected by an outer shell. Inside the shell is fluid that the bug will eventually grow from.
While the shell is strong enough to protect the liquid, it isn’t strong enough to protect against much friction. The eggs are usually stuck in place but are not particularly sticky, so they often crumble when you try to pick them up.
What Do Bed Bug Eggs Look Like?
Bed bug eggs are very small, but they are still visible to the naked eye. They are about the size of a single grain of salt and are very consistent in size. They are also usually found in clusters, which can make them easier to spot. The eggs themselves are white or translucent, and when magnified, look like a grain of rice.
Can You Pick Up Bed Bug Eggs?
When bed bugs are laid, a glue-like substance keeps them in place. It doesn’t take much force to break the glue. However, the egg’s outer shell usually isn’t strong enough to withstand being pulled up.
Rather than picking up the entire egg with your fingers, it is more likely that the egg will crumble or smear when you try to touch it. For this reason, attempting to find and get rid of bed bug eggs with your hands is not a good idea.
Where Can You Find Bed Bug Eggs?
Bed bug eggs can usually be found where bed bugs live. The most likely places are under mattresses or in and around furniture. The best places to search are:
- Your mattress
- The bed frame
- Baseboards
- Behind the headboard
- Under couch cushions
A quick look can cause you to miss small eggs and bugs, so make sure to do a thorough inspection of the area.
What to Do if You Find Bed Bug Eggs
So, are bed bug eggs hard or soft? They are quite soft, and their small size and white-to-translucent coloring make them difficult to detect. But what should you do if you do find bed bug eggs? You may be tempted to just clean the area yourself, but this usually isn’t an effective strategy.
The best thing you can do is call a professional who can do a thorough inspection and cleaning to totally eradicate your living space of bed bugs and bed bug eggs.
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