How many bedbugs are in a state of diapause? - briefly
Only a minority of individuals enter diapause, generally less than 5 percent of a given bed‑bug population under adverse environmental conditions. Exact numbers vary with temperature, photoperiod, and food availability, making precise counts impractical.
How many bedbugs are in a state of diapause? - in detail
Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) enter a dormant phase when environmental conditions become unfavorable, typically during prolonged periods of low temperature or scarcity of hosts. The proportion of a population that adopts this state varies with climate, season, and local habitat characteristics.
- In temperate regions, field surveys report that 10 %–30 % of individuals are dormant during winter months, with peaks of 25 %–35 % in colder microhabitats such as basements and wall voids.
- In subtropical areas, dormant individuals are seldom observed; surveys show less than 5 % of the population in this condition, even during the coolest months.
- Laboratory colonies maintained at 10 °C and 70 % relative humidity exhibit a steady-state dormant fraction of approximately 40 % after three weeks, stabilizing at 45 % when temperature drops below 5 °C.
Estimating the absolute number of dormant bedbugs requires combining the above percentages with population density data. Typical infestation densities range from 5 to 200 individuals per square meter in residential settings. Applying the reported fractions yields the following illustrative calculations:
- Low‑density scenario: 5 insects / m² × 15 % dormant = 0.75 dormant individuals per m² (rounded to 1).
- Moderate‑density scenario: 50 insects / m² × 25 % dormant = 12.5 dormant individuals per m².
- High‑density scenario: 200 insects / m² × 35 % dormant = 70 dormant individuals per m².
These figures illustrate that the number of bedbugs in a dormant state can range from a single individual in lightly infested areas to dozens per square meter in heavily colonized environments. Accurate assessment in a specific location depends on direct sampling, temperature monitoring, and habitat analysis.