What do bed‑lice eggs look like? - briefly
Bed‑lice eggs are minute, oval capsules roughly 0.5 mm long, appearing white or translucent and firmly glued to the base of hair shafts or skin. They typically occur in small clusters of five to ten and stay attached until the nymph emerges.
What do bed‑lice eggs look like? - in detail
Bed bug ova are minute, measuring approximately 0.5 mm (0.02 in) in length. Each egg is oval‑shaped, resembling a tiny grain of sand or a speck of pepper. The shell is smooth, slightly translucent, and ranges from a pale white to a faint yellow‑brown hue, becoming darker as development proceeds.
The surface lacks any visible ridges or ornamentation, allowing the egg to blend with surrounding debris. When freshly laid, the egg appears almost invisible against fabric or mattress material; as embryogenesis advances, a faint darkening occurs, making it more discernible.
Typical laying sites include:
- Creases and seams of mattresses, box springs, and headboards
- Upholstery folds and carpet edges
- Wall cracks or behind baseboards
Eggs are deposited singly or in clusters of 5‑10, each attached to the substrate by a thin, sticky filament that secures the ovum in place. The filament is barely visible, often mistaken for a fine thread of lint.
Key visual traits:
- Size: 0.5 mm long, 0.2 mm wide
- Shape: Oval, slightly elongated
- Color: White to pale yellow, darkening to light brown before hatching
- Texture: Smooth, non‑striated, semi‑transparent
- Attachment: Minute adhesive filament at one pole
These characteristics enable identification during inspections and differentiate bed bug eggs from other household particles.