Who do bed bugs not coexist with? - briefly
Bed bugs cannot share habitats with their natural predators—ants, spiders, and rove beetles—because these species actively hunt and kill them. They also fail to survive in environments where temperatures fall below freezing or rise above approximately 45 °C.
Who do bed bugs not coexist with? - in detail
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius and C. hemipterus) survive only under conditions that meet their physiological requirements for temperature, humidity, and food availability. They are unable to persist alongside several types of organisms and environmental factors that either directly eliminate them or create inhospitable habitats.
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Predatory insects: Ant species such as Solenopsis invicta (red imported fire ant) and Pheidole spp. actively hunt and consume bed‑bug nymphs and eggs. Their foraging behavior disrupts bed‑bug colonies, leading to rapid population decline. Certain rove beetles (Staphylinidae) specialize in preying on small arthropods, including bed bugs, and can eradicate infestations in confined spaces.
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Arachnid predators: Some spider families, notably Pholcidae (cellar spiders) and Theridiidae (comb-footed spiders), capture bed bugs in their webs. The sticky silk and venomous bites incapacitate the insects, preventing coexistence in infested dwellings.
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Nematodes: Entomopathogenic nematodes, especially Steinernema carpocapsae, infect bed bugs through the cuticle, releasing symbiotic bacteria that kill the host within days. Laboratory studies show complete mortality of nymphs within 48 hours after exposure.
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Fungal pathogens: Species of Beauveria and Metarhizium produce spores that adhere to the exoskeleton, germinate, and penetrate the hemocoel, resulting in systemic infection. Field applications of these fungi reduce bed‑bug densities without harming humans.
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Extreme temperatures: Sustained exposure to temperatures above 50 °C (122 °F) for 30 minutes or below –10 °C (14 °F) for several hours destroys all life stages. Such thermal extremes are incompatible with bed‑bug survival, making heat‑treatment and frost‑treatment effective control methods.
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Low relative humidity: Environments with relative humidity below 30 % cause desiccation of eggs and nymphs. Bed bugs require 60–80 % humidity to maintain water balance; prolonged dryness leads to rapid mortality.
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Chemical agents: Insecticides that target the nervous system—pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, and organophosphates—interfere with acetylcholinesterase activity, causing paralysis and death. Resistance mechanisms reduce efficacy in some populations, yet high‑dose, properly applied treatments remain lethal.
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Biocontrol bacteria: Wolbachia strains introduced into bed‑bug populations can disrupt reproductive processes, decreasing fertility and preventing stable coexistence.
These antagonists and adverse conditions create environments where bed bugs cannot maintain viable colonies. Effective management strategies exploit one or more of these incompatibilities to eradicate infestations.