Can Bed Bugs Withstand Cold?
WouterBedbugs are not hardy, but the cold can affect their activity. The cold can inhibit egg production and make it harder for them to hatch. This can help you reduce your bedbug infestation. However, you can’t completely eliminate bedbugs by freezing them. There are other measures you can take to combat this problem.
The freezing process isn’t the best way to get rid of bed bugs. This method may work in some cases, but you should not count on it. Since bedbugs are not heat-producing insects, they aren’t killed by cold temperatures. In addition, freezing the affected area may cause the bugs to hibernate.
To get rid of bedbugs, you should place the infected items in the freezer for two to four days. The temperatures must be below 3.2 F to destroy bedbug life stages. In case of an infestation, you can also freeze the infected items in plastic bags for two to four days. To be sure, you can read the findings of researchers at the journal of economic entomology.
The colder the temperature, the longer it takes bedbugs to mature. During the summer, the bugs will need to feed five times before they reach full size. During these times, they will go back to their harborage and digest their meals.
