How long can bed bug eggs be stored? - briefly
Bed bug eggs stay viable for roughly two to four weeks when kept at cool, stable temperatures; at average room temperature their hatchability declines sharply after about ten to fourteen days. Storage beyond this period results in negligible survival rates.
How long can bed bug eggs be stored? - in detail
Bed bug ova remain viable for a limited period, typically ranging from several days to a few weeks, depending on temperature, humidity, and exposure to light. Laboratory studies show that at optimal conditions—approximately 22 °C (71 °F) and 70 % relative humidity—hatchability declines sharply after about 10 days, with only a small percentage surviving up to 14 days. At cooler temperatures (below 15 °C or 59 °F), development slows, extending viability to roughly 3 weeks, though the proportion of eggs that eventually hatch remains low.
High humidity accelerates embryonic development, shortening the window of storage. Conversely, very low humidity (<30 %) can desiccate the eggs, causing rapid mortality within 48 hours. Exposure to ultraviolet light or direct sunlight also damages embryonic tissues, reducing survivorship to under 24 hours.
The following factors influence the duration that eggs can be retained:
- Temperature: 22 °C ± 2 °C → 10–14 days; ≤15 °C → up to 21 days; ≥30 °C → 5 days or less.
- Relative humidity: 70 % ± 10 % → optimal; <30 % → immediate desiccation; >90 % → increased fungal risk, lowering hatch rates.
- Light exposure: Direct UV → mortality within 24 hours; darkness → maximal viability.
- Physical disturbance: Vibration or mechanical stress can rupture chorion, causing instant failure.
In field conditions, where temperature and humidity fluctuate, the practical storage period rarely exceeds 7 days. Pest‑control professionals exploit this limitation by applying heat treatments that raise ambient temperature above 45 °C (113 °F) for at least 90 minutes, ensuring that any remaining eggs are rendered non‑viable.
For research purposes, preserving eggs beyond the natural viability window requires refrigeration at 4 °C (39 °F) with humidity maintained at 75 %. Under these controlled circumstances, embryonic development can be arrested for up to 4 weeks, after which normal conditions must be restored for hatching. However, prolonged cold storage may still reduce hatch rates by 20–30 % compared with freshly laid eggs.