Where do female bedbugs lay eggs? - briefly
Female bedbugs lay their eggs in protected crevices close to where they feed, such as mattress seams, box‑spring folds, headboard cracks, or furniture joints. The eggs are deposited in clusters of 5‑7 and remain hidden until hatching.
Where do female bedbugs lay eggs? - in detail
Female bedbugs deposit their eggs in protected micro‑habitats that provide darkness, limited disturbance, and proximity to a blood‑feeding host. The insect deposits a single egg at a time, attaching it to a substrate with a sticky secretion that hardens shortly after placement.
Typical oviposition sites include:
- Crevices in mattress seams, box‑spring edges, and bed frames
- Small gaps behind headboards, footboards, and nightstands
- Cracks in wall panels, baseboards, and floorboards
- Upholstery folds, cushion seams, and under furniture legs
- Behind picture frames, electrical outlets, and other household fixtures
Eggs are usually laid in clusters of 5–10, known as an ootheca, within these concealed locations. The female selects sites with stable temperature (20–30 °C) and relative humidity (50–80 %) to ensure embryonic development, which lasts about 10 days under optimal conditions. Once the eggs hatch, the emerging nymphs remain near the deposition site until they locate a host for their first blood meal.