Do Bed Bugs Shed?

Need to get rid of bed bugs? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

One of the surest signs of a bed bug infestation is finding their cast or shed skin anywhere in your home. Bed bugs are exceptionally great hiders. Not everyone has a reaction to bed bug bites. For these reasons, it can be hard to spot a bed bug infestation until it has gotten out of control. Early warning signs of bed bugs that aren’t actually seeing the bed bugs themselves or noticing their bites on your person are spotting bed bug shedding. Noticing shed bed bug exoskeletons around where bed bugs may be living—your mattress, floorboards, box spring, behind the wallpaper—is a reliable indicator that you have a bed bug issue. Shedding can be easy to miss, so it’s important to know what to look for. Read on to find out how to spot shedding and what that means to your particular infestation.

Why Do Bed Bugs Shed Their Outer Layer?

Bed bugs do shed their outer layer, but it’s not technically skin. Cast “skins,” as they are often called, are also not shells. Rather, what you are seeing if you notice these empty castings is the discarded exoskeleton that a bed bug has shed when it has reached a certain stage of maturation. This process is called, moulting. 

The first moult occurs when the egg hatches into a nymph. At this point, it casts off the shell of its egg. After this, the nymph will go through 5 developmental life stages before it reaches full maturity. Each stage is realized by a new moult. When a bed bug reaches adulthood, it will not grow any larger at that point. 

What Seeing Bed Bug Casings Really Tells You

If you are seeing a lot of shed exoskeletons, what you are seeing is a large population of juvenile bed bugs in the process of growing. This is often one of the first signs of infestation. So the size of the moulting can give you an indication of how far along the infestation is in terms of its development. 

Bed bugs tend to live in groups so you will probably find castings in close proximity. A large amount of shed castings can trigger asthma and other respiratory issues. People who are allergic may have severe skin reactions if they come into contact with bed bug casings. If you spot cast bed bug “skins,” call an exterminator today to help alleviate any unwanted consequences of a bed bug infestation.

Call Pest Control Experts

Don’t wait until a bed bug infestation gets out of hand. Finding shed exoskeletons can be the first sign of an infestation. Call a knowledgeable professional pest control specialist who can inspect your home to look for bed bugs and their casings. Call Pest Control Experts to take care of your bed bug problem today and give you back your peace of mind.