Do Bed Bugs Like The Cold
Do bed bugs like the cold? There is an old saying that bed bugs do not care if the temperature is warm or if the air conditioner is on.
They don’t even care if it’s wintertime or summer, and it doesn’t matter to them. Because whether temperatures are hot or cold, bed bugs still bite people!
If you have had bed bug problems, then you already know this. But are there any other circumstances that can cause a person to get bitten by these pests?
Lucky for you, we love giving informative advice like this and making it easy for people to find answers. And rather than leaving you hanging, let us finish answering any questions you may have regarding this matter!
By the end of this piece, you will be able to say that no matter how long your air conditioner has been running or how far north or south of the equator(or both!) you are in, bed bugs can still bite you.
Do Bed Bugs Like The Cold
Bed bugs have an interesting relationship with temperature. They are typically not deemed to be tropical species, but they certainly thrive in warmer climates.
Experiments have shown that they don’t mind if they’re put in a room that’s either too hot or too cold (such as at 40° F).
The Bed Bug Out blog discovered through studies that bedbugs can “tolerate daily or seasonal temperature ranges of ±10°C (±18°F) and relative humidities up to 84-100%”.
The Harvard medical school published an analysis describing freezing temperatures will kill bedbugs within four days.
And follow-up research from the journal of entomology has shown that the same is true for 4 hours at -4 degrees Fahrenheit.
That academic source also elaborated on research findings suggesting hypothermia doesn’t kill bedbugs immediately; instead, it takes about two days for bed bug death to occur when exposed to temperatures below 0°C.
Are bed bugs attracted to heat?
Bed bugs do tend to like heat, but they never developed a resistance to it as roaches did. A common misconception is that bed bugs enjoy the feel of your skin on a hot day: they don’t.
Heat will cook their bodies at the same rate it would be ours if we were exposed to their temperatures for too long. That’s why you’ll find bedbugs in damp places worldwide.
For example, in tropical areas infested with them! But 113 degrees Fahrenheit (about 45 Celsius) is the magical number for getting rid of these little creatures for good, about 90 minutes at least.
It can also be hot enough that no humans can withstand it either; that’s why many homeowners have taken to using steam cleaners throughout their homes as an inexpensive and time-effective way of keeping bed bugs at bay as well as cleaning their carpets and furniture along with other sources of allergens like dust mites and viruses.
Are bed bugs attracted to light?
Bed bugs aren’t typically nocturnal, but they usually eat at night. During the day, bed bugs are most active when there is less light and go into hiding during periods of greater brightness.
If you’re sure that bed bugs are biting you, you can find them in the daytime by looking for their hiding places. Pest controllers do this because bed bugs are much more inactive during daylight hours, making it easier to notice any activity if it takes place out of hiding.
However, be aware that bed bugs may come out or remain active during the day if they’ve recently fed on blood and happen to spot an enticing human target to feed on like yourself!
Sleeping with the lights on will not deter them from having a meal either – so remember to try and get some good rest when at all possible.
Are bed bugs attracted to humidity?
Bedbugs are most comfortable in places where the humidity levels are either high or low. The thought that they prefer to live in damp places is just not true!
You won’t find bedbugs in moist areas like bathrooms or kitchens – nor will you find them living in humid climates either.
Bedbugs can easily survive happily in a warm environment with little moisture for about five months without feeding on the blood of any hosts – which is why it’s so important to check your house over regularly if ever you think pests like this might be roosting inside your home!
A dehumidifier helps keep down the amount of moisture and humidity within the environment – which does help to deter bugs from settling there.
So, suppose you live somewhere like Arizona or California, where humidity is higher than in other parts of America.
In that case, it’s wise to use a dehumidifier around your home when possible because it could help make your property less attractive to invading kinds such as bedbugs.
Conclusion
Do bed bugs like the cold. Bed bugs aren’t fans of having to endure hot nights; neither are they partial to long chilly ones. So surprisingly, your home’s ambient temperature has got as much impact on determining whether or not you’re likely to have a bed bug infestation as does the types of surfaces that you have in your home or whether you share any boundaries with other businesses or individuals (who may also be housing the little critters).
If you live in an area where summers are characterized by high temperatures and the AC stays on constantly, then bed bug activity is likely to increase – though it should be said that 80°F is considered ideal for the little blood-suckers. There’s a good chance that they’ll generally stick near it, so depending on what towns or cities make up your living space, heating will still play a major role in eliminating these particular invaders of your room.
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