How long can bedbugs go without feeding? - briefly
Adult specimens can endure without a host for up to six months, with some reports of survival beyond nine months under cool, low‑humidity conditions. Nymphs require more frequent meals, typically surviving a few weeks to a couple of months depending on developmental stage.
How long can bedbugs go without feeding? - in detail
Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) can endure extended periods without a blood meal, but survival time varies with developmental stage, ambient temperature, and humidity.
Adults typically survive for 100–200 days when deprived of a host. Under optimal conditions (20–25 °C, 70 % relative humidity) the upper limit may approach 300 days. Cooler environments (below 15 °C) slow metabolism, extending starvation tolerance to several months, while temperatures above 30 °C accelerate depletion of energy reserves, reducing survival to 30–50 days.
Nymphal instars possess less stored energy and therefore have shorter starvation intervals. First‑instar nymphs may die within 10–15 days, whereas later instars (fourth or fifth) can persist for 30–60 days, depending on the same environmental factors.
Key physiological factors influencing starvation duration:
- Metabolic rate: declines with lower temperature, conserving reserves.
- Water loss: higher humidity limits desiccation, prolonging life.
- Energy reserves: adults store more lipids than nymphs, granting greater endurance.
Bedbug populations can persist in dwellings for months without feeding, reactivating when a suitable host returns. Control measures must therefore account for the species’ capacity to survive prolonged host absence.