How do bedbugs die? - briefly
Bedbugs succumb to lethal temperatures—exposure to heat above 45 °C for several minutes or prolonged freezing below –10 °C—or to insecticides that interfere with their nervous system, leading to rapid paralysis and death.
How do bedbugs die? - in detail
Bedbug mortality results from several distinct mechanisms that target physiological functions, structural integrity, or environmental tolerance.
Chemical agents act primarily on the nervous system. Organophosphates and carbamates inhibit acetylcholinesterase, causing uncontrolled neurotransmission and paralysis. Pyrethroids modify voltage‑gated sodium channels, leading to hyperexcitation, loss of coordination, and eventual cessation of vital functions. Resistance to these compounds can develop through target‑site mutations or enhanced detoxification enzymes, reducing efficacy.
Thermal exposure above 45 °C for a minimum of 30 minutes denatures proteins, disrupts membrane fluidity, and accelerates water loss, culminating in rapid death. Heat treatment of infested items, when uniformly applied, eliminates all life stages, including eggs that are otherwise tolerant to lower temperatures.
Cold treatment requires sustained exposure to temperatures at or below –17 °C for at least 24 hours. Freezing induces ice crystal formation within cells, rupturing membranes and impairing metabolic processes, which proves lethal to both adults and nymphs.
Desiccation exploits the insect’s reliance on cuticular water. Maintaining relative humidity below 30 % forces continuous transpiration, eventually leading to dehydration and mortality after several days, depending on ambient temperature.
Starvation deprives bedbugs of the blood meals necessary for development and reproduction. In the absence of a host, individuals can survive for up to three months, after which metabolic exhaustion results in death.
Biological agents include entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana, which penetrate the exoskeleton, proliferate internally, and consume host tissues. Parasitic wasps (Xenokryptus spp.) lay eggs inside bedbug nymphs, with developing larvae killing the host from within.
Physical removal methods provide immediate reduction of populations. Vacuuming captures mobile insects and eggs, while steam generators deliver temperatures exceeding 100 °C, causing instantaneous protein denaturation. Mattress encasements create a barrier that prevents re‑infestation and facilitates detection of survivors.
Overall, successful eradication combines multiple approaches—chemical, thermal, desiccation, starvation, biological, and mechanical—to overcome resistance, ensure complete mortality across all life stages, and prevent re‑establishment.