How long do wood bedbugs live? - briefly
Wood-dwelling bed bugs usually live 6–12 months, but can survive up to two years when food is plentiful and temperatures are optimal. Their lifespan shortens markedly in cold or dry conditions.
How long do wood bedbugs live? - in detail
Wood‑dwelling bedbugs progress through a predictable biological cycle. An adult female deposits 1–5 eggs per day, each egg measuring about 1 mm and requiring 6–10 days to hatch under optimal temperatures (25–30 °C). The hatchling, called a first‑instar nymph, resembles a miniature adult but lacks reproductive capability. It must feed on blood to molt, and each of the five successive nymphal stages also demands a blood meal before advancing. The duration of each instar varies with temperature and host availability: at 25 °C, a nymph typically requires 5–7 days to complete a molt; at lower temperatures, development can extend to several weeks.
Adult lifespan depends on feeding frequency, ambient conditions, and sex. Males generally survive 2–3 months, while females live longer, often 4–6 months, because they continue reproducing after each blood meal. In a stable environment with regular host access, a female may remain viable for up to 12 months, producing several hundred eggs over her lifetime. Conversely, in cold or dry settings where meals are scarce, adults may enter a state of diapause, extending survival up to 18 months, though reproductive activity ceases.
Key factors influencing longevity:
- Temperature: 20–30 °C accelerates development and shortens adult life; temperatures below 15 °C slow metabolism, prolonging each stage.
- Humidity: Relative humidity above 50 % supports egg viability; low humidity increases desiccation risk, reducing survival.
- Host availability: Frequent blood meals sustain adult vigor; prolonged starvation leads to mortality within weeks for males and months for females.
- Chemical exposure: Insecticide contact or sublethal doses can shorten lifespan and impair reproduction.
Overall, wood‑associated bedbugs can persist for several months to over a year, with females achieving the longest reproductive lifespan under favorable conditions.