How long do ordinary bed bugs live? - briefly
Adult «Cimex lectularius» generally lives four to six months at typical indoor temperatures, completing its life cycle from egg to adult in roughly one month. In cooler conditions the lifespan may extend to about a year, while high heat can shorten it to a few weeks.
How long do ordinary bed bugs live? - in detail
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) progress through three life phases: egg, nymph, and adult. The duration of each phase determines the overall longevity of the insect.
The egg stage lasts 6–10 days at 21–25 °C. After hatching, the nymph passes through five instars, each requiring a blood meal before molting. Under favorable temperatures (25–30 °C) and regular feeding, the nymphal period extends 4–6 weeks. In cooler environments or when blood sources are scarce, development can be prolonged to several months.
Adult individuals survive considerably longer. When supplied with a blood meal every 5–10 days, an adult typically lives 2–4 months. In the absence of feeding, adults can endure 4–6 months, and under optimal humidity and temperature, some specimens have been recorded to persist up to 12 months. Extreme conditions—temperatures below 10 °C or above 35 °C—shorten lifespan dramatically, often resulting in mortality within weeks.
Key factors influencing lifespan:
- Temperature: 20–30 °C promotes rapid development and longer adult survival; extremes accelerate death.
- Feeding frequency: Regular blood meals extend adult longevity; prolonged starvation reduces it.
- Humidity: 40–80 % relative humidity supports normal development; very low humidity increases desiccation risk.
- Genetic variability: Certain strains exhibit slightly longer or shorter life cycles.
In summary, a typical bed bug lives approximately 2–6 months from egg to death, with adult stages ranging from a few weeks to a year depending on environmental conditions and access to hosts. «The maximum recorded lifespan for an adult under laboratory conditions approaches twelve months».