How long does it take for bed bugs to die without food? - briefly
Adult bed bugs can survive roughly five to six months without a blood meal, and under cooler conditions may persist for up to a year. Nymphs die sooner, typically within two to three months without feeding.
How long does it take for bed bugs to die without food? - in detail
Bed bugs can survive for extended periods without a blood source, but eventual death is inevitable. The length of survival depends on developmental stage, ambient temperature, and humidity.
Adult insects typically endure between three and four months without feeding when temperatures remain around 20 °C (68 °F). Cooler environments (10–15 °C or 50–59 °F) extend this window to six months or more, while higher temperatures (30 °C or 86 °F) shorten it to roughly one to two months.
Nymphal stages have shorter starvation thresholds. First‑instar nymphs may perish after one to two months without nourishment, whereas later instars can persist for two to three months under moderate conditions. All stages experience accelerated mortality at temperatures above 30 °C, where dehydration and metabolic stress increase.
Relative humidity influences survival marginally; low humidity accelerates desiccation, reducing the starvation period by a few weeks, whereas high humidity (above 80 %) can add several days to the lifespan.
In summary:
- Adults at 20 °C: 90–120 days
- Adults at 10–15 °C: up to 180 days
- Adults at >30 °C: 30–60 days
- Early nymphs: 30–60 days
- Late nymphs: 60–90 days
- Low humidity: subtract 10–20 days from each estimate
- High humidity: add 5–10 days to each estimate
These figures represent typical limits; individual insects may vary. Continuous lack of a blood meal will ultimately result in death within the ranges outlined above.