How long do bedbug eggs survive without food? - briefly
Bedbug eggs remain viable for roughly 10 – 14 days without a blood meal under typical indoor temperatures and humidity. Elevated heat or low moisture can shorten this window.
How long do bedbug eggs survive without food? - in detail
Bedbug ova are self‑sufficient; they do not need a blood meal to develop. Under optimal laboratory conditions (≈25 °C, 70 % relative humidity) embryogenesis completes in 7–10 days, after which larvae emerge. When temperature drops, metabolic rates slow, extending the incubation period. At 15 °C the same eggs may require 20–30 days to hatch, and at 10 °C development can be delayed for several months.
Viability without a host depends chiefly on temperature and humidity:
- 20–25 °C, 70 % RH: hatch in 7–10 days; eggs lose viability after about 2 weeks if not fertilized.
- 15 °C, 60 % RH: hatch in 20–30 days; eggs remain viable for up to 6 weeks.
- 10 °C or lower, 50 % RH: development stalls; eggs can survive 2–3 months, occasionally longer, provided desiccation is avoided.
- Dry conditions (<30 % RH): rapid loss of viability within a few days regardless of temperature.
Research indicates that the chorion (outer shell) protects the embryo from dehydration, allowing prolonged dormancy in cool, humid environments. However, prolonged exposure to high temperatures (>30 °C) accelerates embryonic death, with most eggs failing within 48 hours.
In practice, bedbug eggs can persist without a blood source for several weeks under moderate climate, and for up to three months in cool, moist settings. Their survival window contracts sharply in hot or dry surroundings.