Do Bed Bugs Need Oxygen?
WouterMany people have asked, “Do bed bugs need oxygen?” The answer is a resounding “yes.” These insects do not have lungs but they do need oxygen in order to survive. They draw in oxygen through a network of tiny tubes called tracheae, which branch into other smaller tubes. They also have large veins and arteries, and a network of capillaries. Without adequate oxygen, a bedbug may die within eight hours.
A vacuum pack does not kill bedbugs, but it does remove their oxygen. If they are unable to breathe, they will starve. Without oxygen, bed bugs cannot breed and reproduce. Without the blood they need to survive, they find places to hide. A vacuum-packed mattress does not kill bedbugs, but it compresses fabric and folds, creating tiny pockets of air where they can hide.
Because of this, bedbugs need oxygen in order to survive. They can only survive in an environment with 3% oxygen, whereas humans have a normal oxygen level of 21%. They can also survive in a low-oxygen environment by sucking in larger amounts of oxygen. Since bedbugs do not have lungs, they get their oxygen from a network of tiny tubes called tracheae. They also have a large circulatory system, consisting of big veins and arteries, and tiny capillaries. Without adequate oxygen, they will succumb to the disease and die.
Although bedbugs need oxygen in order to survive, they can only survive for a few minutes without food or water. This means that it would take five to four months to starve a single bed bug. Similarly, a bedbug’s eggs cannot survive without oxygen, and it would take several months to kill a nymph.
