Do bedbugs appear when it is cold? - briefly
Bed bugs are not activated by low temperatures; they persist year‑round and are attracted to hosts, not to ambient cold. Cold weather may lessen indoor activity only if heating is off and hosts become scarce.
Do bedbugs appear when it is cold? - in detail
Bedbugs thrive at temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C; these conditions support feeding, mating, and egg development. Temperatures below 15 °C markedly reduce activity, and sustained exposure to 5 °C or lower halts development and can be lethal after several days.
When outdoor temperatures drop, insects seek shelter indoors where ambient conditions remain within their optimal range. Consequently, cold weather does not eliminate infestations; instead, it often concentrates bugs inside heated spaces, increasing the likelihood of human contact.
Reproductive cycles slow dramatically in cool environments. Females lay fewer eggs, and embryonic development may pause for weeks if temperatures fall beneath 15 °C. Adult bugs enter a quiescent state, feeding less frequently and conserving energy.
Control strategies exploit temperature sensitivity. Professional heat‑treatment raises ambient temperature to 45–50 °C for several hours, ensuring mortality of all life stages. Conversely, freezing infested items at -18 °C for at least four days achieves the same result without chemical exposure.
Detection during winter remains feasible. Look for live insects in cracks, mattress seams, and baseboards; expect reduced movement, making visual confirmation more challenging. Use interceptors or passive monitors to capture occasional wanderers, confirming presence despite low activity levels.