How many days does a bedbug live?

How many days does a bedbug live? - briefly

Adult bedbugs usually live between two and six months, with longevity influenced by temperature and access to blood meals. In favorable conditions they can survive up to a year, while those without a host may die within a few weeks.

How many days does a bedbug live? - in detail

The lifespan of a common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) can be expressed in days by examining each developmental phase and the conditions that influence longevity.

Eggs hatch within 5–10 days when temperatures range from 21 °C to 30 °C. After emergence, the insect passes through five nymphal instars. Each molt requires approximately 5–7 days of feeding and digestion, so the entire nymphal period lasts about 30–45 days under optimal conditions.

Adults reach reproductive maturity after the final molt. In a warm, food‑rich environment, an adult lives roughly 120–180 days (4–6 months), feeding every 5–7 days. When blood meals are scarce, adults can survive for 150–300 days, and in cool, dry settings some individuals persist for up to 365 days without feeding.

Key factors that modify the total number of days include:

  • Temperature: 25 °C–30 °C accelerates development; temperatures below 15 °C extend each stage.
  • Humidity: 60%–80% relative humidity supports normal growth; lower levels increase mortality.
  • Food availability: regular blood meals shorten the interval between molts and extend reproductive output; prolonged starvation lengthens survival but reduces fecundity.
  • Sex: females generally outlive males by 10%–20% due to larger body reserves.

Reproductive capacity also affects population turnover. A single female can lay 1–5 eggs per day, accumulating 200–500 eggs over her lifetime, which translates into multiple generational cycles within a year.

Summarizing the data, the typical life expectancy of a bed bug falls between 120 and 365 days, with extremes of about 30 days in high‑temperature, high‑food environments and up to one year in cooler, low‑food conditions.