How many bedbugs die during disinfection? - briefly
A properly performed disinfection regimen eliminates roughly 80‑90 % of the insects. Mortality varies with the specific chemical or heat treatment and the duration of exposure.
How many bedbugs die during disinfection? - in detail
The mortality of Cimex lectularius during a sanitation cycle depends on the method, exposure time, and concentration of the active agent. Chemical treatments such as pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, or desiccant dusts typically achieve 80‑95 % kill rates after a single application when surfaces are thoroughly covered. Repeated applications raise overall mortality to 99 % or higher, because residual insects recover from sub‑lethal doses and are eliminated in subsequent rounds.
Heat‑based disinfection, which raises ambient temperature to 45–50 °C for a minimum of 90 minutes, kills virtually all stages of the pest. Laboratory tests show 100 % mortality within 30 minutes at 50 °C, while field applications often report 95–99 % after the full exposure period, accounting for temperature gradients and hidden refuges.
Steam treatment delivers temperatures above 100 °C directly to infested items. Contact times of 30 seconds per surface achieve complete eradication of exposed individuals; however, effectiveness drops to 70–80 % when insects remain concealed in insulated crevices, necessitating multiple passes.
Fumigation with sulfuryl fluoride or vaporized hydrogen peroxide penetrates concealed areas. Standard protocols (24‑hour exposure at 10 ppm for sulfuryl fluoride) result in 99.9 % mortality across all life stages. Vaporized hydrogen peroxide, applied at 5–10 g m⁻³ for 60 minutes, yields comparable results, though efficacy declines if humidity is low.
In practice, integrated pest management combines at least two modalities—chemical, thermal, or physical—to approach total elimination. Failure to treat all harborages, insufficient exposure duration, or sub‑optimal dosage can leave 1–5 % of the population viable, potentially leading to resurgence.