How soon do bedbugs die? - briefly
Adult bedbugs generally live 2 – 6 months without feeding, extending up to a year under ideal conditions. Nymphs usually perish within weeks if they cannot obtain a blood meal.
How soon do bedbugs die? - in detail
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) typically survive without a blood meal for 2–6 months, depending on environmental conditions. Temperature exerts the strongest influence on mortality rate. At temperatures above 45 °C (113 °F), insects die within minutes; exposure to 50 °C (122 °F) for 10 minutes ensures complete eradication. Conversely, at 0 °C (32 °F), individuals may persist for several weeks, with death occurring after prolonged freezing.
Starvation accelerates decline. After 30 days without feeding, adult mortality reaches 50 %; by 90 days, most adults are dead. Nymphs succumb more rapidly, with 80 % mortality after 20 days of starvation. Humidity affects desiccation risk: low relative humidity (<30 %) shortens survival by up to 40 % compared to optimal levels (70–80 %).
Chemical control agents produce variable lethal intervals. Pyrethroid‑based sprays cause knock‑down within minutes, but full mortality may require several hours as insects recover before succumbing. Insect growth regulators disrupt development, leading to death at the next molt, typically 2–4 weeks after exposure.
Physical methods provide immediate results. Vacuuming removes live insects and eggs; extracted specimens die within hours due to trauma and desiccation. Steam treatment at 100 °C (212 °F) kills on contact, with no surviving individuals after a single pass.
In summary, the lifespan of bed bugs without nourishment ranges from weeks to months; extreme heat or freezing can terminate life within minutes to hours; starvation, low humidity, and chemical or physical interventions shorten survival to days or even minutes, depending on the specific condition applied.