How long can a bed bug remain in dormancy? - briefly
Adult bed bugs can endure periods without a blood meal for up to six months, with occasional reports of survival up to a year under favorable conditions. Nymphs survive for shorter intervals, typically a few weeks to two months.
How long can a bed bug remain in dormancy? - in detail
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) can enter a state of reduced metabolic activity when environmental conditions become unfavorable. This dormancy, often referred to as diapause or quiescence, allows survival without feeding for extended periods.
Under optimal shelter with low temperature (below 15 °C) and limited access to hosts, adult insects have been documented to survive without a blood meal for up to 300 days. Laboratory studies report that nymphs may persist for 150–200 days under similar conditions, although their survivorship declines more rapidly than that of adults.
Key factors influencing the length of inactivity include:
- Temperature: Cooler environments slow metabolism, extending survival; temperatures above 30 °C increase metabolic demand and shorten the dormant interval.
- Humidity: Relative humidity below 50 % accelerates desiccation, reducing the time insects can remain unfed; moderate humidity (60–80 %) supports longer survival.
- Life stage: Adults possess greater energy reserves than earlier instars, enabling them to endure longer periods without nourishment.
- Food availability history: Individuals that have recently consumed a large blood meal can sustain themselves longer than those with limited prior intake.
In field conditions, bed bugs have been recovered from vacant dwellings after several months of abandonment, confirming their capacity for prolonged quiescence. However, prolonged dormancy does not guarantee indefinite survival; mortality rates increase markedly after the first year without a host.
Effective pest‑management strategies must account for this resilience. Inspection protocols should include thorough examination of cracks, crevices, and furniture even in seemingly unoccupied spaces, and treatment plans should incorporate residual insecticides or heat applications capable of eliminating insects that have persisted in a dormant state.