Can bed bugs lay eggs on your skin?
You must be asking yourself if bed bugs can lay eggs under human skin and how safe you are if it is true. It is pretty accurate that bed bugs are scary and quite challenging to eradicate. Those who have had a bed bug infestation can attest to this. ‘
Do not worry, however. This article will look into this question and guide you appropriately. We will also explore whether baking soda kills bed bugs and how effective and ineffective it is. Let’s jump straight into our discussion.
Can bed bugs lay eggs in your skin?
The answer is no. Bed bugs rely on human blood for survival since they are parasites. However, when it comes to where they lay their eggs, these stubborn animals are quite fussy and pretty smart.
The only relationship a bed bug and the human body have is feeding. They create tiny holes in the body from which they drink your blood. You, however, cannot feel a bed bug bite because they first inject you with an anesthetic before releasing an anticoagulant, which ensures that your blood does not clot.
Bed bugs are pretty big, and therefore, the skin is not a conducive place for them to lay their eggs, which are also not as small. Their mouthparts are also not as developed, and therefore, it would be quite hard for them to bite through your clothing.
These bugs are also pretty intelligent since they know that humans are highly mobile, and therefore, they and their eggs can get crushed anytime. In case of movement, their eggs are at a higher risk of falling off.
If bed bugs cannot lay their eggs on human skin, where else do they lay their eggs?
It is only logical for a bed bag to lay its egg anywhere around the home or in places they mostly frequent. These include the cracks in the edge of your bed or tiny holes around the room where they are generally at peace. Once you have a bug infestation, you will notice clusters of eggs around the edges of the mattress or the bed.
Jut like we mentioned, these bugs are pretty smart, and therefore before they commit to laying eggs, they first choose the place. In case you are wondering which criteria they use to find the right place to lay their eggs, here are two:
- Easier access- Bed bugs lay their eggs in locations that guarantee them easier access to their hosts, which in this case are humans. Why? This is because immediately after hatching, the baby nymph is expected to look for its meal, which is blood.
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It is therefore logical that the eggs are laid in places most frequented by humans, such as your mattress (they bore holes) or in tiny holes near your bed. Your seats can also be part of these laying areas since you spend a considerable amount of time on them.
- Peace- Bed bugs prefer their laying locations to be peaceful with minimum disturbance. They will, therefore, choose areas where they are not easily disturbed, which is also a reason why they cannot lay their eggs in the human body.
You will, therefore, find that their egg-laying spots are pretty hidden. If you have a bug infestation and your mattress has some openings, you can be sure of some bed bug eggs.
Bed bugs, therefore, have several options when it comes to their laying areas, and I can assure you that the human body is none of those. In case you have a bug infestation, do not go looking at your hair or ears, whether there are bed bugs. Here are some of the notorious places:
- Your sheets and pillowcases. Bed bugs can comfortably lay eggs inside these two.
- Carpet- In case you have a thick floor carpet and a bug infestation, kindly do check.
- Curtains- Bed bugs can lay eggs in the fold of your curtains.
- Furniture- Check for the grooves.
- Your electronic gadgets and toys.
- Walls- The cracks in the walls are usually very vulnerable when it comes to bed bug eggs.
The only crucial thing that you ought to have in mind is that bed bugs will only lay eggs where they are closer to the hosts. So, if it is a crack in the wall, be sure it will be an area that you sleep in or spend most of your time in.
Can baking soda kill bed bugs
Controlling and eradicating a bed bug infestation is always a task. Bed bugs do procreate at a high rate, and when you see one crawling around, be sure that there are thousands elsewhere. People, therefore, resort to different ways of eradicating these animals. Some use hot water, others paraffin, and others detergent.
The main issue that we will tackle, however, is whether you can kill all the bed bugs in your home and completely eradicate the infestation using baking soda. Similar to many other ways of tackling these bugs, baking soda is a result of creativity and people’s imagination since it lacks any insecticide properties in it.
Does it work, however? Most people claim that baking soda works in controlling bed bug infestation and can vouch for it anytime. There is, however, no scientific proof that it indeed does away with these uncomfortable species.
Is there a theory behind this? Yes. People believe that baking soda, being a naturally occurring salt, has high dehydrating properties and can, therefore, rid the bugs off the water, which in return kills them. Other people also believe that it is harmful when ingested by the bed bugs, which is quite challenging since these bugs rely on blood alone, where they create tiny holes in their hosts and feed on them.
What does science say? According to science, sodium bicarbonate, which we are referring to as baking soda, can easily adhere to the soft bellies of the pesticide. Since it is a dehydrating agent, it is likely to eliminate the layer of fats around these parasite bellies that prevent dehydration.
By taking this and what people who have used this salt say into account, it would be pretty safe to say that baking soda works, but with limitations. It can be effective for a small infestation but not a larger one.
Is this method effective?
Judging from reports from different homeowners, one may say that this method is quite effective. In case you want fast results, this process is pretty ineffective since you have to exercise a level of patience.
How effective this product is in controlling your bugs, therefore, depends on issues such as how well you use the product and for how long. ‘people who have used baking soda insist that there is a proper way of application that you need to follow.
Baking powder takes time before releasing any noticeable result, and therefore, it is easy to pass it as just a hoax. Most people also suggest that you should not use it primarily since it is pretty slow.
Have in mind; however, that bed bugs are pretty stubborn and have, over time, developed resistance to even more potent chemicals, and therefore relying only on a naturally occurring salt for elimination is quite a long shot.
Unlike spraying, applying baking soda means that you have to ensure that it makes direct contact with the bug, which is pretty time consuming and may not be fun, especially if you are tired of the constant bites.
How can I make the baking soda more effective?
In case you are hell-bent on trying out your luck with the baking soda only, there are specific hacks that will make your process more effective as compared to direct or controlled application. These are:
- Making a paste- You can mix the baking powder with water in a bowl to make a paste. This is easier since all you have to do afterward is to apply the paste to areas where you feel that the bugs might be hiding.
It is not also an expensive approach since you do not have to use a spray gun. A simple toothbrush will work when it comes to the application of pastes. This method is also more effective as compared to the physical application of dry baking soda.
It would also be wise if you placed this paste in places you feel that the bed bugs frequently walk in. Some of these are pretty obvious such as the edge of your bed or mattress.
You, however, need to understand that it is vital for you to keep on reapplying this paste as much as possible if you want to kill as many bed bugs as possible.
- Combining it with other means- We have other ways of eradicating bed bugs, and therefore it would be wise if you made use of some of them alongside the baking soda.
This will strengthen areas that the baking soda does not cover, and all the bugs that will not be reached by the salt will die.
Conclusion
Bed bugs are pretty stubborn. Have in mind, however, that they cannot lay eggs on human skin. In case you would like to eradicate them using baking powder, I highly suggest that you combine it with other means.