Where do bedbugs overwinter? - briefly
Bed bugs spend the cold months hidden in protected microhabitats such as mattress seams, furniture joints, wall cracks, and baseboard voids where temperatures remain stable. These secluded sites allow them to survive until conditions become favorable again.
Where do bedbugs overwinter? - in detail
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) survive the cold season by seeking sheltered micro‑environments that maintain temperatures above their lower developmental threshold, typically around 10 °C (50 °F). In temperate regions they remain primarily indoors, exploiting cracks, crevices, and voids where heat from human activity or appliances persists.
Key indoor refuges include:
- Mattress seams, box‑spring cavities, and headboards.
- Furniture joints, sofa cushions, and upholstered frames.
- Wall voids, baseboard gaps, and electrical outlet boxes.
- Behind wallpaper, picture frames, and wall hangings.
- Under floorboards, in crawl spaces, and within attic insulation.
When indoor heating is intermittent or absent, bed bugs may migrate to semi‑protected outdoor sites that still provide moderate warmth, such as:
- Burrows or nests of rodents and birds.
- Leaf litter and mulch beneath decks or porches.
- Soil pockets insulated by debris near building foundations.
- Warm micro‑habitats within garden structures (e.g., sheds, toolboxes).
Survival strategies during winter involve reduced metabolic activity, prolonged fasting, and delayed molting. Adult females can endure several months without a blood meal if temperatures remain within the survivable range. Extreme cold below –5 °C (23 °F) for extended periods can cause mortality, but brief exposure often results in temporary dormancy rather than death.
Factors influencing overwintering success:
- Ambient temperature fluctuations.
- Availability of insulated micro‑habitats.
- Presence of a host for occasional blood meals.
- Building construction quality and sealing of entry points.
Understanding these preferred sites aids targeted inspection and control measures before the spring resurgence.