Easter has hopped along early this year, bringing with it cute Easter chicks, very fluffy bunnies and the scent of chocolate eggs filling the air. However, they’re not the only eggs you might come across. The insect world is filled with tiny eggs getting ready to generate spring pests that could end up sharing your home.
Signs of insect eggs within a property could indicate a potential insect infestation. There are a whole range of insect eggs waiting to hatch and cause mischief around your property. If you are able to identify the type of eggs you might spot, it can help you in managing a possible pest infection.
Some examples of Insect Eggs
Bed Bugs
- About 1mm long
- Creamy white colour, getting darker as they hatch to larvae
- Are laid after an adult has fed
- Can be found near where adult bed bugs hide during the daytime
- Are attached to items of furniture or fittings in clusters
These parasites lay between 200 and 500 eggs over a period of about 2 months, in batches of 10 to 50 at a time. If you’ve discovered these behind headboards, light switches, in bedroom furniture, mattresses or bedframes, you will need to act quickly. Bed bugs can move through wall or floor cavities, spreading easily to other rooms.
Cockroaches
- Female cockroaches produce egg cases known as oothecae
- Oothecae contain many eggs and are strong protective casings
- Some cockroach species drop the egg case, while other carry it until the eggs are ready to hatch
- Empty oothecae are often hidden in the harbourages cockroaches use
There are over 3000 different species of cockroaches – only some are considered pests, whilst others benefit their natural environments. However cockroaches can be carriers of various diseases such as food poisoning (Salmonella), Gastro-enteritis and Tapeworms.
Flies
- House fly eggs are laid in large batches ranging from 120 – 1000
- Bluebottles (also known as blow flies) lay eggs in animal carcasses (rodents and birds most often) or rotting food & can hatch within about 18 hours
- Cluster fly eggs are laid in soil in late summer or early autumn
- All fly eggs will hatch into maggots before pupating into adult flies
Flies are one of the most common pests globally, and are known carriers of diseases such as Dysentery and Cholera. Unlike the sell by date of your favourite chocolate Easter egg, the lifespan of a common fly is around 30 days.
Mosquitoes
- Mosquito eggs are laid on the surface of standing water – water butts, watering cans and even house plant trays are suitable breeding grounds
- Anopheles mosquitoes (transmitters of malaria) lay eggs about 1mm long which are placed directly onto the water. The eggs are unique in having floats on either side
- Female Anopheles mosquitoes, with just one blood meal can lay 50 – 150 eggs.
There are many species of mosquitoes around the world. Only female mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting diseases such as Malaria. This affects around half of the world’s population, but it’s a preventable disease. Simply sleeping under a mosquito net can saves lives – charities such as Malaria No More UK are helping to save lives through prevention, education and support.
A sign of pest eggs usually indicates a potential infestation. Picking up any knowledge you can about the eggs of common pests found inhabiting your property, will ultimately help save you both time and money.
Why not go pest egg hunting and explore your property for signs of a potential pest dilemma? It’s an effective way of working off the calories from all those chocolate eggs !
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