Bed bugs are a highly resilient pest. Over the centuries they’ve adapted to survive in a variety of environments, some harsher than others. One of the most common misconceptions about bed bugs is that they will die or go into hibernation during the winter months.
However, these blood hungry insects are more than capable of weathering the winter months. Understanding how bed bugs survive through the winter makes it easier for homeowners to prevent infestations during the coldest months of the year.
Bed Bug Biology
Bed bugs are small, oval, reddish-brown insects that primarily feed on the blood of humans. They’re naturally nocturnal and prefer to hide in cracks and crevices during the day until they can safely come out at night to feed.
Unlike many other household pests bed bugs do not have wings, so they can not fly or jump. They typically travel by hitching rides on clothing, luggage, or other items carried by their human hosts.
Bed bugs are notable for their ability to reproduce at astounding rates. Bed bugs can live up to a year and females can lay up to 5 eggs per day. Winter or Summer, a handful of hungry bed bugs can establish a significant infestation in short order.
Bed Bug Activity in Winter
While they are more often associated with warmer weather, bed bugs can remain active throughout the year. They don’t hibernate during the winter like other insects, and will continue to seek out food sources throughout the winter months. As long as they can find food bed bugs will reproduce and remain active despite the winter chill.
Having said that, the winter weather can influence bed bug behavior in some very important ways. As temperatures drop outside they will seek refuge in warmer indoor spaces. So while the outside temperatures may be too cold for bed bugs to survive for extended periods they can find warmth, shelter, and food inside buildings. This accounts for the uptick in home infestations during the winter season.
How Bed Bugs Survive Cold Temperatures
Bed bugs are ectothermic creatures. That means they rely on their surrounding environment to regulate their body temperature. But bed bugs are nothing if not resilient, and they have developed various strategies that help them survive extreme temperatures.
Bed bugs can withstand temperatures as low as 46 degrees Fahrenheit with little or no ill effects. But once those temperatures dip closer to freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit and lower) they face certain death. So bed bugs will try to avoid the cold by staying in heated indoor spaces. They’ll hide in cracks, mattress seams, furniture, and behind baseboards where temperatures remain relatively comfortable.
The warmth inside homes during the winter allows bed bugs to continue their life-cycle without interruption. In homes with central heating bed bugs will thrive, searching out warmth and seclusion while avoiding colder areas of the home.
Bed Bugs and Freezing Temperatures
While bed bugs have developed a general resistance to the cold, freezing temperatures can be deadly after prolonged exposure. If They’re directly exposed to freezing conditions for several days they will die. Naturally, in the average home bed bugs are unlikely to be exposed to such extremely low temperatures for any extended period of time.
However, freezing has become an alternative method of dealing with bed bug infestations. Cold treatments can be used to eradicate bed bugs in infested furniture, clothing, and other personal belongings. It is an expensive process but it can often be used to salvage household items that may otherwise have to be discarded.
Preventing Bed Bug Infestations in Winter
Avoiding bed bug infestations in winter can often be a challenge. Because we all tend to travel more during the holiday season we increase our chances of interacting with, and bringing home, bed bugs. To reduce the rise of winter-time bed bug infestations consider the following tips:
- Inspect Hotel Rooms – If you are traveling for the holidays and staying in a hotel or resort check the rooms for signs of bed bug activity. Some key areas to inspect include the bed and surrounding areas, any upholstered furniture, closets, and dresser drawers.
- Police Your Luggage – When staying in an unfamiliar place try to keep your luggage off the floor. When you return home, carefully inspect your clothing and other belongings when unpacking.
- Seal Up Cracks and Crevices – Bed bugs and enter your home through cracks in the walls, windows, and floors. Seal up any potential entry points to minimize the risk of unwanted intruders.
- Regular Cleaning – Vacuum and clean your home regularly. Give extra attention to areas where bed bugs like to hide such as along the edges of carpets, in mattresses, and along the seams of upholstered furniture.
Bed bugs are not as vulnerable to cold weather as you might think. Freezing temperatures can kill them so they’re primed to find warmer indoor spaces where they can thrive. Understanding that behavior and being aware of their basic survival strategies can help you prevent and control bed bug infestations during the winter months.
As always vigilance, early detection, and professional pest management remain crucial when trying to keep bed bugs out of your home.
Published by Scott Palatnik
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