When Do Bed Bugs Become Dormant?
WouterBedbugs are cold-blooded, which means they can live for about two to three months without feeding on blood. This means that if temperatures fall below freezing, they will go dormant, but that doesn’t mean that the infestation has been eliminated. Instead, these insects will simply move on to a new source of food.
Temperatures that are below freezing encourage bedbugs to enter a dormant state, or diapause. This is similar to humans going into hibernation, but not all insects enter this state. Bed bugs will remain in this state until they are reintroduced to a host.
Bed bugs are oval, wingless insects that are about a half-inch long. They have a flattened body, small compound eyes and well-developed antennae. In addition, their pronotum area (the part behind their head) has numerous tiny hairs. The immature stage, known as a nymph, is smaller than the adult, and has a lighter yellowish-white color.
Depending on the temperature of the environment, bed bugs can remain dormant for several months, even a year, if not longer. This is why it’s important to contact a pest-control expert if you’re planning on buying a new home or going on an extended trip. You can also eliminate your bed bug problem yourself if you’re willing to spend several months or even a year outside.
When do bedbugs become dormant, they become less active, which means they won’t breed as often. Cold weather also prevents the bugs from digesting their food. This means that they’re not active during winter and will stop feeding if they’re in a low temperature.
