You would think that as the cold temperatures move in, we would have a reprieve from pesky bed bugs and the problems they bring in a home, office or hotel environment. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Indoor Insects
Since bed bugs are an indoor insect, they like the same temperature ranges that humans find comfortable. They can remain active with “spring or summer” temperatures indoors.
Bed bugs’ appearance:
- Eggs are pearly white and & only 1mm in length
- First stage immature bed bugs are light colored, somewhat translucent and only 1mm in length
- Immature bugs go through five developmental stages becoming larger and darker with each stage
- Adult bed bugs are approximately 1/4 inch in length and are reddish-brown in color.
“Diapause” Hibernation
Bed bugs do not live outside like other insects such as gnats, mosquitoes, and black flies who go away during the winter because they are affected by the cold temperatures outside. Bed bugs go into “diapause” hibernation which is a low-energy state. As the temperatures outside warm up it brings them out of diapause.
Winter
Bed bugs are not only active during the winter months but they can spread during the winter months through traveling over the holidays or college-age children returning home over winter break, etc. The bed bugs can climb into suitcases and bags and lay their eggs in these locations. Then, they are transported by a heated vehicle to their new home.
Freeze Them
Some people consider freezing out bed bugs outdoors. It takes three and a half days, or 80 hours to freeze bed bugs out. The temperature has to be below 0 degrees Fahrenheit for the entire time which does not happen in my states. You have to consider the nymphs and eggs in the process.
If you suspect that you have bed bugs, it is best to contact a pest control professional to eliminate them?
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