Can Bed Bugs Survive Without Blood?
WouterBed bugs feed on blood. Many people think that they can starve these pests to death, but this is difficult and usually fails. The fact is that these bugs are able to live without food for months, even years. It really depends on many factors. However, on average, they can survive for about three months in room temperature.
Although bed bugs cannot survive without blood, they can survive in cooler temperatures for several months without feeding. This means that, in buildings that are maintained at a constant temperature, they can survive for up to four months without a blood meal. During this time, they can disperse to neighboring units, or even reduce their activity level until the room is reoccupied.
Bed bugs usually feed once or twice a week. When they do feed, they feed for about three days. But if they are not fed, they will go into hibernation. This is an interesting survival mechanism. A full infestation can contain thousands of bed bugs. A single bed bug only needs to feed once a week, so you will not have to worry about the bugs living in your home for months at a time.
Bed bugs feed during the night, but they also hide in dark places during the day. They can also feed when their hosts are nearby. They prefer to stay within six feet of the sleeping area. Their hiding places include seams in mattresses, tufts, and the wood joints of box springs. They can also hide in furniture, loose wallpaper, electronics, and upholstery.
