When Do Bed Bugs Die?
WouterBed bugs can be killed in a number of ways. You can use heat to kill them. The temperature should be at least 119 degrees Fahrenheit to kill adult bed bugs. A heat source can reach this temperature in less than 10 minutes. Another way is to place infested items in the freezer for four days.
The temperature at which bed bugs will die will depend on their metabolism. They can survive higher temperatures for a shorter period of time. In one study, a temperature of forty degrees Celsius killed adults and eggs in twenty-four hours. In another study, a temperature of fifty-one degrees killed adults and eggs after one hour. However, when exposed to the same temperature for a longer period of time, they were no longer able to survive the higher temperatures.
In addition to using a heat-based solution to kill bed bugs, a silica-based dust can be used as a treatment. This type of dust clings to the exoskeleton of the insect and absorbs its waxy coating. If used properly, chemical treatments are effective and less expensive. They are best combined with the use of box spring and mattress encasements.
One of the first steps in preventing bed bug infestation is to know when the bugs hatch. In most cases, the bugs do not emerge until six to eight weeks have passed since they first started to feed. It’s important to understand that the response to a bed bug bite is different in everyone. For example, a person may not experience an itchiness for several days before he or she realizes they have a bed bug infestation.
