People seldom see bedbug eggs. This is partly because they are very small. Each egg is about 1/32″. Bedbug eggs are about the same size as very coarse grains of sand.
The female bedbug deposits the eggs in cracks. She sometimes produces one or two eggs each day. On other days, she may produce a batch of several eggs. She returns the next day to deposit a few more eggs. Over a few days, she can produce several hundred eggs.
The female bedbug produces a sticky substance that makes the egg stick to the surface where she places it. This cement works so well that the empty eggshell remains attached to the surface after the egg has hatched and the nymph has crawled out.
Cold temperatures affect bedbug eggs. In a favorable environment – about 70° — the eggs will hatch in a week or two. At 57°, eggs take almost six weeks to hatch. If the temperature is below 55°, the eggs will often not hatch at all. Scientists think that in winter, bedbugs will try to migrate from a vacant home or apartment into a warmer environment.
Hot temperatures can also affect bedbug eggs. Scientists found that at 98.5°, bedbug eggs would not hatch. They also found that temperatures above 113° would kill adult bedbugs.
Since heat can kill bedbugs, many pest control professionals use steam equipment to treat mattresses, box springs, and other sensitive surfaces. This treatment kills bedbugs and their eggs where they have been hiding. This treatment also minimizes damage to the fabric and leaves no odor or toxic residue on surfaces where people will sleep.