The bed bug life cycle progresses from the egg stage into five larvae (or nymph) stages. Bed bugs lay their eggs in safe and hidden areas like mattresses, furniture, wall cracks, baseboards, and floorboards. These eggs are white, oblong, and about 1 mm in length. Nymphs look like smaller versions of adult bed bugs. After finding a blood meal, the bed bug nymph will shed its exoskeleton several times before maturing into its adult stage.