How Hot Can Bed Bugs Survive?

Heat is the number one enemy of bed bugs, and it’s a proven fact that these pests can’t survive at temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for long periods. Heating the bed bug population to this temperature kills off all stages of the bed bug’s life cycle. Heat treatment is one of the few methods that can effectively kill bed bugs within one treatment. However, it’s important to use heat treatment correctly to ensure a complete and effective result.

Temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit cause bed bugs to stop functioning, while temperatures above 113 degrees Fahrenheit kill adults in about 20 minutes. However, bed bug eggs require more time to kill, and they must be exposed to temperatures above 118 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 90 minutes.

While freezing temperatures may not kill bed bugs, they do make the environment in your home less attractive for them. As previously mentioned, their survival depends on the amount of sunlight, humidity, and temperature variations. If you can keep your house at a constant temperature, bed bugs will remain dormant in the colder temperatures.

In addition to being more active during the summer months, heat also encourages bed bugs to feed more often. In the summer months, temperatures between 77 and 90 degrees are ideal for their development. The bugs must feed at least five times before they reach full maturity.

Continue reading:

Where Do Bed Bugs Naturally Live? Does Having Bed Bugs Make You Dirty? Do Bed Bugs Give You Pimples? Does Burning Bed Bugs Kill Them? Can You Use a Clothes Steamer For Bed Bugs? What Can You Use to Kill Bed Bugs in Your Home? Can You Bring Bed Bugs to Work? Can I Take My Landlord to Court For Bed Bugs?