How to Find and Kill Bed Bug Eggs

In the fight against bed bugs, finding and killing bed bug eggs is just as critical as eradicating their adult counterparts. While we tend to focus more on the adults because they bite us, removing an infestation is impossible without removing every last bed bug egg. Eliminating bed bug eggs can be quite a challenge, but here are some ways to find and kill them.

Can You See Bed Bug Eggs?

Although they are tiny, at just one millimeter long, you can see bed bug eggs with the naked eye—if you look carefully. Searching for bed bug eggs images reveals an oval-shaped egg that is off-white and roughly the size of a half-grain of white rice. Though you can see them with the naked eye, it can be helpful to use a magnifying glass when searching for bed bug eggs.

How to Find Bed Bug Eggs

Since it is easy to miss them, you must know where to look. They like to be close to their food source (read: you), so bed bugs—and their offspring—will inhabit all areas of your bed. Pay special attention to any area that is not in the open, like cracks, folds, and underneath the box springs. You’ll also want to check places where the mattress comes in contact with the floor.

Bed bugs don’t limit themselves to just your bed, however. You’ll need to check windows and curtains as well, especially the folds of the curtains and the windowsill. Be sure to also look under dressers and around dresser legs.

How to Kill Bed Bug Eggs

There are several different ways kill to bed bug eggs. Even just one leftover bed bug egg can cause the infestation to restart, so it’s critical to be thorough.

Heat

Heat is the most effective way to kill bed bug eggs. Sustained temperatures of over 120 degrees Fahrenheit will do the job. Put all your bedding and clothes in the dryer for thirty to sixty minutes. Washing them prior is not necessary. Then you’ll need to have a professional come in and kill the bed bug eggs that may remain on the mattress and box frame.

Vacuum

Vacuuming is another effective way to get rid of bed bug eggs. Make sure to use a HEPA-rated filter vacuum, which will prevent the eggs from escaping once they’re in the filter. This type of vacuum will not only pick up the tiny bed bug eggs, but it will also remove their feces and shells.

Vacuuming won’t kill them, but it will allow you to remove them. Make sure to use a sealed plastic bag for disposal, and take the bag outside of your home when you are finished vacuuming.

Keep in mind that bed bug eggs have adhesive that helps them stick to the surfaces they inhabit, which can make it harder to remove them. It’s helpful to scrub the infected area with a brush to dislodge them before vacuuming.

Pesticides and Insecticides

Lastly, you can use pesticides and insecticides to kill bed bug eggs, though there are a couple of vital details to keep in mind. To effectively kill bed bug eggs, an insecticide must penetrate the shell and reach the embryo. Check any product you purchase to make sure it kills eggs. If it is not indicated for use on eggs, it won’t be effective.

Since infiltrating the shell is so important in removing bed bug eggs, you should scrub the area where they are before spraying. Rubbing the area will help the product you use to penetrate the shell and be more successful.