How long do bedbugs live and how do they reproduce? - briefly
Adult bed bugs generally live 6 – 12 months, extending up to a year when temperatures are low or food is scarce. Females deposit 1‑5 eggs each day on concealed surfaces, and the eggs hatch within roughly seven days.
How long do bedbugs live and how do they reproduce? - in detail
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) survive for several months under normal indoor conditions. An adult female can live between 4 and 6 months without a blood meal; with regular feeding, lifespan extends to 12 months or more. Temperature strongly influences longevity: at 21 °C (70 °F) adults persist for the longest period, while exposure to 30 °C (86 °F) reduces survival to roughly 2–3 months. Extreme cold or heat (below 0 °C or above 45 °C) can cause rapid mortality.
Reproduction proceeds through a well‑defined sequence. After a male transfers a spermatophore during copulation, the female stores sperm in a specialized organ and begins oviposition within 2–3 days. She deposits 1–5 eggs each day, typically laying 200–500 eggs over her lifetime. Eggs are cigar‑shaped, 1 mm long, and hatch in 6–10 days depending on temperature (≈8 days at 25 °C). The emerging nymph passes through five instars, each requiring a blood meal before molting. Developmental durations per instar are approximately:
- 1st instar: 4–5 days after feeding
- 2nd instar: 5–7 days after feeding
- 3rd instar: 6–8 days after feeding
- 4th instar: 7–10 days after feeding
- 5th instar: 8–12 days after feeding
After the final molt, the nymph becomes a mature adult capable of reproduction. Females can produce a new batch of eggs after each successful blood meal, enabling rapid population growth when hosts are readily available. Environmental stressors such as low humidity, limited food, or chemical exposure can extend developmental intervals and reduce fecundity, but under optimal conditions a single female may generate several hundred offspring within a year.