What do bedbug larvae look like and why are they dangerous: methods of dealing with young parasites

Features of reproduction of domestic bugs

Stages of development of bedbugs: from egg to adult

The female bed bug lays 5 eggs per day. Of which larvae appear after 5-10 days. From the appearance of larvae to a sexually mature individual, 25-30 days pass. During this time, the nymph goes through five molts and turns into a sexually mature individual.

Bed bug larvae

Larvae after birth are small and slow. The period from appearance to transformation into an adult can last 30-40 days and depends on air temperature and nutrition. During this time, the larvae grow and go through 5 molts, after each their body becomes large.

Outwardly, the larvae of bedbugs are an exact copy of their parents, only a small size. Their body is light yellow. Feeding on blood, the larvae grow and darken over time.

Five larval instars

After birth, the body of the larva is 1,5 mm in size.

1. In the first stage, it grows to 2 mm, sheds its light yellow shell and becomes darker.
2. At the second stage, the larva begins to actively feed and move around. Its size increases to 2,5 mm. The body darkens after molting.
3. At the third stage, the larva becomes 3 mm long, and the shell becomes light brown.
4. After stages 4 and 5, the body of the larva increases to 4,5 mm and becomes brown.

What to eat

For the first 2 days, the larva feeds on its own reserves, from the third day it begins to feed on human blood. In the absence of nutrition, the larva may fall into suspended animation for some time, but as soon as a source of nutrition appears, it immediately begins to actively feed again.

Where do the larvae live

The larvae live in secluded places and come out to feed at night. During the day they hide

Differences between bedbug larvae and young individuals of other insects

Bedbug larvae can be confused with the larvae of other parasites living in the house:

• the larvae of bedbugs and ticks are outwardly similar, but bedbugs have 6 legs, and ticks have 8;
• the shape of the body of the ant larvae is similar to the nymphs of the bugs, but the ants have a jumper between the head and the body, while the bugs do not;
• nymphs of cockroaches and bedbugs are similar, but cockroaches are more mobile and have a light spot on the body;
• sometimes bug larvae are confused with fleas, both of which bite people. But fleas jump and move faster than bed bugs.

Favorable conditions for the development of larvae

Larvae develop rapidly in the presence of food, heat and moisture. The optimum temperature for their development is from +20 to +26 degrees and air humidity of 70%. If the temperature drops, development slows down. With temperature fluctuations: an increase to +50 degrees or a decrease to -10 degrees, and humidity below 70%, the larvae die.

Is it true that bed bug larvae bite too?

Bedbugs are bloodsuckers, they feed only on human blood. Their larvae on the third day after birth, begin to bite a person. And their bites are more painful than adult bed bugs. Adult bedbugs spray an anesthetic along with saliva, and the bites are not as painful.

Destruction of larvae of bed bugs

Treatments with chemicals or high and low temperatures are considered effective methods for the destruction of larvae. Under the influence of high or low temperatures, adults and eggs die.

Temperature effect

High and low temperatures kill the larvae. They die at a temperature of +45 degrees for 45 minutes, at +50 and above they die instantly.

Insekticidы

Insecticides are used to treat the premises. The industry produces products used at home. The instructions explain how to properly prepare the solution and how to do the processing. The most popular and affordable are such drugs:

Processing is carried out in an empty room, with the windows closed. Before processing, do a general cleaning. Be sure to protect the respiratory organs with a mask, wear glasses, gloves, a gown and closed shoes.

How to destroy bedbug eggs in an apartment

The first thing to do is to find bed bug eggs. but they are very small and hard to see. But the eggs will definitely be in those secluded places where the bugs hide at night. This is, of course, the bedroom, and other rooms. Eggs to look for:

The processing of all these places must be carried out very carefully, because if a few eggs remain, from which larvae will appear after a while, which after a while will lay eggs, because the female bugs are very prolific.

What is the complexity of the fight against larvae and eggs of bedbugs

What insecticides are ovicidal

To successfully combat bedbugs, agents are used that retain their effect on the treated surface for some more time. For the treatment of premises at home, the following drugs are used:

• Karbofos - protective effect up to 10 days;
• Fufanon - protects 10-14 days;
• The executioner retains the effect for up to 3 weeks;
• Get - protects up to 6 months.

All these tools are available and after application they give a good result.

The essence and procedure of reprocessing.

After processing, adults and larvae will die, but eggs will remain, from which larvae will appear. Therefore, a second processing is required. It is advisable to carry it out in two weeks.

1. During re-treatment, all secluded places in the bedroom, furniture, under carpets are carefully passed.
2. Move the furniture away and process around the entire perimeter of the plinth.
3. But they process not only the bedroom, but the whole apartment, since the grown larvae can hide in secluded places, away from human eyes.