What Temperature Can Bed Bugs Survive?
WouterBed bugs can survive the winter months, especially if you keep the heat on. They have a high cold tolerance, which means they can survive temperatures as low as 46 degrees Fahrenheit. They are even able to survive at even colder temperatures, because their bodily fluids can lower the freezing point of water. In fact, they can survive temperatures as cold as -13 degrees Fahrenheit for a few days. However, if you keep the temperature above that level, bed bugs will die.
If you live in Alaska, you should know that the average winter temperature is -32 degrees F. This is colder than many parts of the U.S., but not unusual for the north of the country. You should also know that cold temperatures are even worse if they are coupled with windchill. Thankfully, bed bugs don’t suffer from windchill since they can hide. Even if the temperature is constant, it will change over time.
However, if you have an infestation, freezing temperatures can be the best way to kill them. When freezing, you need to place the infected items in a sealed plastic bag and freeze them for about four days. In this way, you can keep the bugs from spreading. You can also place items such as pictures, clothes, and shoes in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer.
