How long do green bedbugs live? - briefly
Green‑colored bed bugs typically survive between six and twelve months, depending on temperature, food availability, and reproductive stage. Under optimal indoor conditions they may live up to a year, while extreme heat or cold shortens their lifespan considerably.
How long do green bedbugs live? - in detail
The lifespan of a green‑colored bed bug varies with environmental conditions, host availability, and developmental stage. An egg hatches in 6–10 days at 22 °C, producing a first‑instar nymph. Each of the five nymphal instars requires a blood meal before molting and typically lasts 4–7 days under optimal temperature (25–28 °C) and humidity (70–80 %). Development slows markedly at lower temperatures; at 15 °C a nymph may take up to three weeks to molt.
Adult insects emerge after the final molt. Under favorable circumstances—steady access to blood, temperatures between 21 and 27 °C, and relative humidity above 60 %—an adult can survive 4–6 months, reproducing continuously. In the absence of a host, adults enter a dormant state (quiescence) and may persist for 2–3 months, occasionally longer if humidity remains high. Laboratory observations report maximum survivorship of up to 12 months when food is supplied intermittently and conditions remain stable.
Key factors influencing longevity:
- Temperature: higher temperatures accelerate metabolism, shortening the overall life cycle; extreme heat (>30 °C) reduces adult survival to weeks.
- Food availability: regular blood meals extend adult life; prolonged starvation leads to rapid decline after the initial quiescent period.
- Humidity: low humidity (<40 %) increases desiccation risk, especially for eggs and early nymphs; high humidity supports longer survival.
- Genetic variation: the green morph is a color variant of the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) and shares the same physiological limits as the typical form.
In summary, a green‑hued bed bug typically lives several months, with potential extension to a year under optimal, consistently fed, and humid conditions, while extreme environments can truncate its lifespan to weeks.