Life cycle:
After mating, females lay white, oval eggs (1/16″ long) into cracks and crevices.
An individual bed bug can lay 200 to 250 eggs in her lifetime.
The eggs hatch in 6 to 10 days and the newly emerged nymphs seek a blood meal.
Immature nymphs molt five times (they shed their outer exoskeleton) before reaching adulthood.
There may be three or more generations per year. All ages are found in a reproducing population.
Bed bugs need to feed at least once before each molt, although they could feed as often as once a day.
Young nymphs can survive without a blood meal for days up to several months. Older nymphs and adults can survive longer without a blood meal up to a year under favorable conditions.
***Courtesy of: University of Minnesota***
