How Long Can Bed Bugs Reproduce Without Feeding?
WouterBed bugs have five stages of reproduction, each of which requires a female to be fed. A female bed bug will lay one to two eggs a day, which will hatch into nymphs. These insects will then molt five times before they mature into adults. Once mature, a female bed bug can lay between 200 and 500 eggs in her lifetime.
A full-grown bed bug can survive for up to 400 days without feeding. However, there are some conditions that can reduce their lifespan. Specifically, temperature and humidity are key factors in how long a bed bug can survive without feeding. If temperatures are cool enough, bed bugs can live without food for one to two months. If the temperatures are hot, bed bugs will have to spend more energy to survive.
An adult bed bug is oval-shaped, wingless, and about one-eighth of an inch in length. It has long antennae and a pair of small compound eyes. It also has a pronotum area, which bears many tiny hairs. An immature bed bug, known as a nymph, is smaller and yellowish-white in color.
Once a female bed bug has fed, she may show signs of interest in mating. The nutrients in her system allow her to produce more fertile eggs and sperm. After mating, a female bed bug will move slower than she did before feeding, making it easier to catch. It will also show off its spermalge.
