How long do bedbug eggs last? - briefly
Bedbug eggs stay viable for roughly 6–10 days at typical indoor temperatures. In cooler environments they can persist up to about two weeks, though hatch rates drop sharply after ten days.
How long do bedbug eggs last? - in detail
Bed bug embryos develop within a protective shell that remains viable for a limited period. Under optimal conditions—temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C (68 °F–86 °F) and relative humidity around 70 %—the incubation lasts roughly five to ten days before hatching. Deviations from this range affect the timeline:
- Cooler environments (below 15 °C / 59 °F): development slows, extending the period to 14 days or more.
- Higher temperatures (above 35 °C / 95 °F): accelerate growth, potentially reducing it to three days, but extreme heat can also cause egg mortality.
- Low humidity (<30 %): desiccates the casing, shortening viability and increasing failure rates.
After hatching, the newly emerged nymphs require a blood meal to progress to the next stage. The eggs themselves are resilient to short‑term disturbances; crushing or vacuuming can destroy them, but merely moving furniture does not guarantee removal because the shells protect the embryos until they emerge.
For eradication efforts, timing is critical. Treatments that leave a residual effect for at least two weeks cover the longest possible development window, ensuring that any eggs that survive the initial application will be exposed once they hatch. Re‑treatment after 7–10 days addresses any survivors that escaped the first round. Monitoring with sticky traps or interceptors can confirm the absence of emerging nymphs, indicating that the egg population has been eliminated.