Does Bed Bugs Like the Cold?
WouterIf you’re worried about bedbugs, you may be wondering if they like the cold. But the good news is that they don’t need to stay in chilly temperatures to survive. In fact, bedbugs can withstand temperatures as low as -13 degrees Fahrenheit and remain active for a couple of days. Even if you live in a warm area, you don’t need to panic.
One method of killing bedbugs is to use dry ice. Although dry ice is an effective way to kill bed bugs, it is dangerous for humans. Always use dry ice with caution and only apply cold treatment when necessary. Don’t use cold treatment if you don’t have any experience with it.
Bedbugs are known to use a special strategy against the cold: they use a process called cold hardening to adapt to cold temperatures. Once they are acclimated to cold temperatures, they can withstand much deeper temperatures than they can handle when exposed to heat. This process is quite exceptional. It’s similar to how plants and insects use an antifreeze solution to protect themselves from the cold weather.
Although bedbugs don’t like the cold, they are still active during winter. However, the chances of an infestation during this time are significantly lower. They don’t like extreme temperatures, and are therefore less likely to hitch a ride with humans in the coldest season.
