Can Bed Bugs Survive in the Cold?

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When homeowners learn that their house is infested with a pest as pervasive and invasive as bed bugs, they immediately start to think of ways to get rid of them. Of course, one of the best ways to do this is to determine what bed bugs like, and then apply the opposite treatment. Bed bugs, it is known, like warm bodies that they can feed off of. Although the bodies may not be able to be removed from the home, is it possible to remove the warmth? Many people will take bedding and other moveable items they believe are infested and place them in the freezer. So, can bed bugs survive the cold?

Optimal Temperature for Bed Bugs

Bed bugs often burrow themselves into small, warm places such as into the nooks and crannies of beds, couches, and other cozy places. They do this for many reasons. The first is that they are not easily found in these areas and so, they can continue to increase their population and come out only when it is time to feed. The second reason they like these places is because they are warm, usually about 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the ideal temperature for bed bugs.

Cold Temperatures and Bed Bugs

Although bed bugs prefer temperatures that are fairly mild, they can survive cold temperatures for an extended period of time. To kill bed bugs below the freezing point, they usually must be exposed to the cold temperatures for approximately four days. An article in Yale University School of Public Health states that female bed bugs can better withstand cold temperatures than their male counterparts. 

Females will freeze at temperatures between -4 degrees Fahrenheit and -20 degrees Celsius. Female bed bugs will not die at this stage, but instead, freeze. Their egg production will also greatly slow down at any temperature under 50 degrees Fahrenheit, as well. This could mean that even though freezing temperatures will not kill bed bugs right away, they may prevent an infestation from quickly becoming worse.

To treat bed bugs with cold treatments, they must be exposed to below freezing temperatures of at least -30 degrees Celsius, which is -22 degrees Fahrenheit. Bed bugs must be exposed to these temperatures for a period of three or four days in order for this cold to affect them. Most home freezers do not reach these temperatures and so, when placing bedding and other materials inside of them to kill bed bugs, the length of time these items are left in the freezer will need to be extended.

Bed Bugs and Hibernation

Like all insects, people tend to wonder if bed bugs hibernate in the winter and then show up again in the spring. These pests do not hibernate the same way bears do. Instead, they freeze their body liquid and enter a dormant state known as diapause. This is partial hibernation. Going into this state allows bed bugs to remain dormant and go without food for several months. Bed bugs typically enter this state at temperatures of approximately 61 degrees Fahrenheit. They will remain in this state until temperatures improve and allow them to function normally again. However, even in this state, being exposed to extreme cold is enough to kill bed bugs.

Bed Bugs and Winter Colors

Flannel is big in Missouri during the winter months and it turns out that bed bugs are not only attracted to cozy surroundings, they are also attracted to cozy colors. Flannel is primarily made up of red and black colors, two hues that bed bugs happen to love. Flannel is used not only in clothing, but also in blankets, bedding, and home decor. No one really knows why bed bugs are attracted to flannel, although it is thought that they allow bed bugs to hide better.

Contact Our Missouri Pest Control Specialists for Help With Your Bed Bugs

Bed bugs do not have a season in Missouri. Although they thrive in warm temperatures, they can survive extremely cold temperatures, if only for a short period of time. Due to the fact that bed bugs are so hearty, and so resistant to different temperatures, it is best to call a St. Charles pest control specialist when you have an infestation. At Amco Ranger, we know the bed bug remedies that can eradicate your infestation and keep it out for a long time. Call us today at (636) 223-5703 to schedule a free inspection and to learn more about our bed bug control methods.

What do Baby Bed Bugs Look Like?

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Baby bed bugs are known as nymphs and if you see them, it means there is a very good chance that you have an infestation. Nymphs indicate that there is an infestation with females laying eggs. It also means that all of the adult bed bugs are feeding on human hosts, which is an annoyance and can make going to bed a little less comfortable. Due to this, it is crucial that all homeowners know how to identify nymphs that can indicate a much bigger problem.

The Appearance of Baby Bed Bugs

Nymphs are typically quite flat and no larger than a grain of rice. They are white and their shell is very soft, which makes them easy for homeowners to kill simply by pressing on them. Many people believe that baby bed bugs, or nymphs, are so small that they cannot be seen by the naked eye, but that is not true. However, because they are so small in appearance, they can be difficult to spot. Nymphs do not go through a metamorphosis like other insects and so, they look very similar to adult bed bugs. 

All bed bugs are flat, but there is an exception when they feed. After they eat, their abdomens expand because of the food they have just consumed. This, however, is not visible with the naked eye and requires a microscope to observe. As such, it is not a viable method of distinguishing nymphs from adult bed bugs.

The Size of Baby Bed Bugs

Although the term ‘nymphs’ refers to baby bed bugs that have just been born, all bed bugs go through five juvenile stages before they are adults. During the first two of these stages, baby bed bugs are considerably smaller than adults. Still, even during these stages, bed bugs will become bigger with each stage. They will be larger in the second stage than they were the first, and larger still in the third stage than they were in their second. During the third stage, a bed bug will be approximately half of the size it will be as an adult.

The Color of Baby Bed Bugs

When bed bugs first hatch, they are entirely white or off-white in color. Bed bug eggs are the same color, which is why some people confuse the two. Bed bug nymphs will remain this color until they begin to feed. 

After a bed bug feeds for the first time, it will have a round red spot in its abdomen. This is where they store the blood after they feed. Once they have digested this food, they will shed their skin and grow bigger. As nymphs begin to digest and grow, they will start to turn from white to brown. This is caused by the bed bugs using the nutrients from the blood that they eat from their host. As the bed bug babies grow into an adult bed bug, they will start to get browner and browner.

Adults are brown throughout their entire body. This is a result of feeding on a host on a regular basis. Once brown, bed bugs never return to their white color again.

Do Nymphs Crawl?

Anyone that has a bed bug infestation in their home may have seen them crawling around at some point. There is a good chance that when this happens, people are seeing adult bed bugs. 

Bed bugs in general, no matter their age, do not crawl very quickly. The first reason for this is that they simply do not need to crawl fast. Their main method of survival is to hide rather than run away. Bed bugs also do not have very long legs. Rather, they are quite short and stubby. As a result, bed bugs are unable to run very quickly. Bed bugs also rarely travel at full speed. They reserve this only for when they sense danger but even then, they cannot move very quickly. 

Baby bed bugs are even slower than adult bed bugs. Although they can crawl, they do not do so very often. Instead, they prefer to remain hidden rather than attempt to run away from a threat. They come out mainly at night, also to avoid running into any threats. 

Contact Our Missouri Bed Bug Specialists for Help with Your Infestation

It is important to be able to identify bed bugs during all stages of their life. This is the only way to determine if you have an infestation. If you believe your home is infested with bed bugs, call our St. Louis bed bug specialists at Amco Ranger. We will conduct a free inspection to determine the severity of the infestation and advise on the methods we use to get rid of it. Call us today at (636) 223-4804 and say good-bye to bed bugs tomorrow.