Do bed bugs like cold weather

Do bed bugs like cold weather? Like many living things, extreme weather can affect them. This article will talk about bed bugs and how they survive in cold weather.

Bed bugs are highly resilient pets capable of thriving and populating whenever they find their way into our homes. They are also challenging to eliminate, which is why you might consider different ways to get rid of that bed bug infestation. So, you might ask – do bed bugs like cold weather?

Bed bugs and cold weather

Bed bugs, like many other insects, can survive in colder temperatures. During this time, they will enter a period of dormancy known as diapason, where their body metabolism slows down.

In this state, their growth might also become suspended. As the temperature gets even colder, they cannot breed or feed. But this is also a good thing as without access to a blood meal, fully matured adult bugs can live as much as one year in such cold temperatures. Still, there is a limit for this temperature as bed bugs cannot survive below -180C. However, this isn’t a normal circumstance anywhere, so; it might be hard to kill bed bugs by freezing them out in the cold weather.

Beyond that, most people also use some heating element during the colder months. Therefore, the chances of the temperatures remaining warm enough that the bugs continue to breed, feed, and cause nuisance are still there. This is why freezing bed bugs is not an efficient way to get rid of the infestation.

Even if you decided to turn on your air conditioning units to the coldest settings, the intensity of the cold might not reach the bugs as they inhabit bedding, curtains, furniture, and within the floor and wall cracks.

How to kill bed bugs?

If cold weather does not do the trick, you might wonder what can kill bed bugs. In truth, bed bugs are challenging to eliminate. So it would help if you combined different approaches to get them out completely. Depending on the severity of the infestation, you might have to carry out each procedure several times. Here are some of the most effective treatments you can combine:

• Identify their hidden spots: According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, your first step is to identify their possible hiding place using signs of live bed bugs, black fecal matter, and their skins on seams of mattresses, furniture, electrical outlets, and all cracks and crevices in your home. The locations near your sleeping place might have a higher infestation.
• Clean your home: Once you have meticulously sought out where they are. It is time to clean your home thoroughly. This would include all spots you suspect and every other area in your home. Use a powerful vacuum cleaner with a good HEPA filter. Don’t also forget to use a disposable bag afterward and seal appropriately before disposing of it.
• Launder bedding and clothing: You can also get rid of bed bugs from infected clothes by washing them at the hottest possible temperature. You might have to sort your clothes because the most desirable possible temperature may differ from one to another.
• Use a hot dryer: For clothes and other bedding that cannot be washed, you might have to air dry with hot air for about 30 minutes.
• Make use of a bed bug spray:Bed bug sprays are great ways to get rid of bed bug infestation. These sprays can kill off bed bugs in hard-to-reach places. Don’t forget to follow all appropriate instructions to use the spray effectively.

Final thoughts

Do bed bugs like cold weather? Yes, they do. Bed bugs can survive in cold weather to temperatures as low as -180C. Anything much lower than that can kill bed bugs, but it isn’t an efficient way of dealing with the infestation. To completely get rid of bed bugs, consider using a comprehensive approach through cleaning, steam cleaning, and using bed bug sprays.

Can you kill bedbugs with cold water

Can bed bugs live in the cold

When Do Bed Bugs Lay Eggs?

What Do Deer Eat When It Snows?