How Long Can Bed Bugs Live Without Food?
One of the biggest challenges you face when attempting to get rid of bed bugs yourself is how long they can live without food. It’s important to know this so that you don’t waste time and money on treatments that aren’t effective, or on products that only make your bed bugs hungry and make the problem worse.
Here, we take an in-depth look at how long bed bugs can live without food, so you can use this information to make sure your treatment plan works as effectively as possible.
What do bed bugs eat?
The best food blogs will tell you that bed bugs, which aren’t actually insects but are closely related to mites and ticks, are most attracted to blood. Their scientific name, Cimex lectularius (literally translates as a lover of bed) is fitting considering they tend to feed off sleeping victims by piercing the skin with hooked mouthparts and sucking up blood.
Just how long can bed bugs live without food? They don’t starve easily and typically only die after several weeks of a blood-free diet in an extremely humid environment.
What Do Bugs Do After They Feed?
Bed bugs go without eating for a long time. Some estimates say they can live for up to 400 days without food. That’s partly because they’re really good at hiding, but also because they go into a sort of hibernation-like state while they digest their last meal. Most insects need to molt in order to grow and keep living, but bed bugs are an exception they can actually live longer after molting than before, thanks to bigger bodies with more blood vessels and muscles.
Their exoskeletons develop faster after molting too; in fact, they only need about 20 minutes between feedings as opposed to 24 hours when not digesting anything.
Do Bed Bugs Die Without Food?
How long can bed bugs live without food is a question commonly asked by homeowners who have recently discovered they have an infestation Of course, you don’t want to know that because it means there are bed bugs in your home but knowing how long bed bugs can live without food will help you understand their life cycle. Bed bugs need to feed on blood before they mate and lay eggs. They feed every five to ten days and survive for months between meals (bed bug feeding facts). Knowing how long bed bugs do live without feeding is key to understanding why it can take so long for them to go away once they’re inside your home or office.
What Do Bugs Do After They Feed?
Just like humans, bed bugs have preferences. Some don’t mind bat or bird blood (ew!), whereas others stick with humans. If a bed bug doesn’t feed within a certain period of time, it dies—but what can you do in that meantime to ensure that your home is free of unwanted bugs (human or otherwise)?
Whether it’s freezing, fumigating or just good old-fashioned cleaning, here are some steps you can take to clean up and rid yourself of any bed bugs lurking in your space! Good luck! And if you need any additional advice on how long do bed bugs live without food , check out our list of best food blogs. Yummy!
What steps should you take if you have an infestation?
From vacuuming all of your furniture, to cleaning and sealing all cracks in your walls, there are numerous steps you can take to eliminate bedbugs in your home. It’s important to not just rush into it though. Proper preparation will save you a lot of time and hassle down the road. Here are some best food blogs tips on how long they can live without food.