Bed bugs are persistent pests. As colder months arrive, a common question emerges: can these resilient insects survive winter? Understanding their biological adaptations and behavioral patterns reveals the answer.
Bed Bug Resilience to Cold
Bed bugs endure colder temperatures due to unique biological characteristics. They can enter a dormant state called diapause when conditions are unfavorable, like dropping temperatures or scarce food. This significantly slows their metabolic activity, conserving energy and increasing their chances of survival. While they tolerate temperatures as low as 46°F (7.8°C), their activity and reproduction rates decrease below 60°F (15.5°C).
This metabolic slowdown means they require blood meals less frequently; adults can survive for months without feeding, and nymphs for up to three months. However, this resilience does not mean they are immune to cold. They are not tolerant of freezing temperatures below their supercooling point, which ranges from -21.3°C to -30.3°C (-6°F to -22.5°F) across different life stages.
Where Bed Bugs Go in Winter
Bed bugs are primarily indoor pests, thriving in human-occupied environments. During winter, they are not found outdoors in the elements. Instead, they inhabit and reproduce within protected indoor spaces, shielded from cold. Their preference for human-occupied areas means they seek consistent warmth and readily available blood meals.
Common indoor hiding spots include mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and other furniture. They are also found in cracks and crevices within walls, behind baseboards, in electrical outlets, and under loose wallpaper, where they can remain undisturbed. These protected locations provide a stable microenvironment, allowing them to survive and continue their life cycle despite outdoor chill.
Impact of Extreme Cold on Bed Bugs
While bed bugs exhibit resilience to moderate cold, sustained freezing temperatures are lethal to them. Research indicates bed bugs, including eggs and nymphs, are killed when exposed to 0°F (-18°C) or colder for at least four days.
These conditions are rarely met by natural winter weather inside heated homes, as indoor temperatures remain well above freezing. Therefore, simply turning off heat or placing infested items outdoors in winter is generally not sufficient to eradicate an infestation. Professional cryogenic treatments, using liquid carbon dioxide to rapidly freeze bed bugs on contact, are an effective method for control, eliminating all life stages, including eggs.