A woman’s morning took a horrifying turn after she spotted strange white grains scattered across her sheets. At first, she assumed her husband had spilled rice while eating in bed — but on closer inspection, she realised something was very wrong.
The small, shiny, oval specks were not food at all. Inside one, something appeared to move. A quick online search confirmed her fear: they were bedbug eggs.
What they look like:
- Tiny, about 1 mm in size
- White, oval, and shiny
- Often compared to grains of rice
- Laid in hidden spots such as mattress seams, behind baseboards, or in furniture cracks
Life cycle and health risks:
- Eggs hatch in 6–10 days into larvae that feed on blood
- While bedbugs rarely transmit diseases, their bites can cause itching, allergic reactions, skin irritation, and insomnia
How they spread:
- Brought home in luggage after travel
- Hidden in used furniture or clothing
- Can migrate from neighbouring apartments through vents or wall cracks
How to get rid of them:
- Deep clean and vacuum cracks, seams, and joints
- Wash bedding and clothes at 60°C or higher
- Use a steam cleaner on mattresses and furniture
- For full eradication, contact professional pest control
The woman says she’s now relieved she spotted the signs early — otherwise, within a week, she believes she could have been facing an infestation.