Do Bed Bugs Die With Cold Weather?
WouterWhile the cold weather may be a good place to kill bed bugs, it is not as effective as many people think. These blood sucking insects can survive temperatures as low as -32 degrees Fahrenheit. However, they will greatly slow their egg production at these temperatures. This may help prevent the infestation from getting worse.
To determine whether bed bugs die with cold weather, researchers looked at the freezing points of their body fluids. They also evaluated the survival rate and feeding potential of bedbugs exposed to cold temperatures. They found that bedbugs can survive for at least 80 hours at 3.2 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if the temperature is below -13 degrees Fahrenheit for a short period of time, they will die.
While bedbugs are not able to hibernate like bears, they do enter a state called diapause. Diapause involves a slow metabolism and energy conservation. This allows bed bugs to go dormant, not feeding for several months. Cold temperatures, especially if they last longer than four days, can kill bedbugs.
While the cold weather can be hard on pests, it isn’t necessarily bad for bedbugs. Because they can’t feed as frequently during the coldest months, they can survive for up to a year without a blood meal. Even if they are left outdoors, they can survive winter months if they’re able to find another host.
