Bed bugs are common household pests that can cause significant discomfort. A frequent question arises regarding their ability to survive submersion, specifically whether they can “breathe” underwater and for how long. Understanding their unique biology is essential to address this inquiry.
How Bed Bugs Breathe
Bed bugs, like all insects, possess a respiratory system distinct from mammals. They do not have lungs; instead, they breathe through a network of tubes called tracheae that branch throughout their bodies. Air enters this system via small external openings on their exoskeleton known as spiracles. These spiracles act as muscular valves, allowing bed bugs to control airflow and close them off to prevent water loss or in response to environmental conditions. Oxygen diffuses directly into their tissues through this tracheal system, and carbon dioxide is expelled through the same pathway.
Their Ability to Survive Submersion
While bed bugs cannot swim, they exhibit resilience to water. Their ability to seal their spiracles allows them to “hold their breath” when submerged, preventing water from entering their respiratory system. This mechanism, coupled with a low metabolic rate, enables them to enter a dormant state and survive for extended periods without oxygen. The duration of their underwater survival is influenced by water temperature; colder water slows their metabolism, allowing them to survive longer, potentially for several days, while hot water drastically reduces survival time. Bed bug eggs are resilient, capable of surviving submersion for up to 24 hours, even in cooler water.
Submersion as a Control Strategy
Despite their ability to endure submersion, using water as a primary method for bed bug control is generally ineffective for widespread infestations. While individual bed bugs can drown if fully submerged, it is difficult to ensure complete submersion for all life stages, including eggs and nymphs, across an entire infested area. Bed bugs can also float on the surface tension of water if they haven’t recently fed, further complicating efforts to drown them. Washing infested items like bedding and clothing in hot water is effective because heat, not drowning, kills bed bugs and their eggs. Temperatures of 120°F (49°C) or higher are needed, with 140°F (60°C) being more effective, especially with high-heat drying; treating large areas with water is impractical and can cause moisture damage, making professional heat treatments or chemical applications more reliable.