The resiliency of pests, bed bugs included, has annoyed and frustrated homeowners for generations. Bed bugs are particularly troublesome because they can survive in warm and cold environments.
This makes it difficult to completely eradicate their presence in most homes. With their persistence and resilience, this leaves many among us wondering – do they prefer cold or warm room temperature?
Similar to humans, bed bugs prefer warmth over cold. If you’re living in states where you dread most winters, like Wisconsin, for instance, you’ll understand how difficult it can be when the temperatures start to dip.
The atmosphere makes it harder for us to do our daily routines, let alone survive.
For the same reason, bed bugs tend to favor warm climates since it helps them thrive and reproduce quickly.
Can Bed Bugs Get Through the Winter?
Considering that pests like bed bugs prefer warm rooms over cold rooms, does this mean that their presence is limited in colder climates? Not necessarily.
While it’s true that winter can be a challenging period for bed bugs, this doesn’t mean they won’t survive. On the contrary, they are capable of enduring extremely cold temperatures and prolonged periods of extreme chilliness.
Although their preference to warm rooms keep them more active and mobile, bed bugs can still find ways to keep themselves warm and survive in colder climates.
If a room is heated or the temperature is kept at a comfortably warm level, bed bugs will have no problem surviving through winter.
Additionally, these nasty pests are attracted to the warmth that humans emit. The carbon dioxide and body heat that we give off provide a comfortable environment for bed bugs.
This is one of the reasons why they’re often found in areas where people sleep – couches, beds, furniture sets, etc.
During the winter, when homes are heated, and people prefer spending more time indoors, bed bugs will have plenty of opportunities to feed and reproduce.
As long as the temperatures in your home are comfortably warm, you can expect bed bugs to remain active throughout winter and other cold times of the year.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as “off-season” for bed bugs. Whether it’s during the winter or the hot summer months, an infestation is bound to happen when there are conducive conditions.
When bed bugs hitch a ride and settle down in your mattress, carpet, furniture, and other parts of your home, it can become a nightmare for everyone involved.
What’s the Ideal Warm Temperature That Bed Bugs Thrive In?
While resilient, this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re impenetrable. Extreme temperatures can also act as a deterrent for these nasty bugs. If there’s no warmth coming from your home or any other areas, these bed bugs won’t find much luck in sticking around.
The ideal temperature range that bed bugs prefer is between 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. As long as these temperatures are maintained, you can expect their presence in your home – and the inconveniences they bring with them, like bites and even stains on your furniture.
How to Deal with Bed Bugs in Warm Room Temperature?
As mentioned earlier, bed bugs prefer warm temperatures rather than cold, and how will you deal with them when they appear in your home? Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to do so.
Extreme heat is one of the most effective and simplest ways of tackling bed bugs. Temperatures higher than 130°F can easily kill these pests, however, you need to be careful since such temperatures can also cause damage to your furniture.
This type of temperature can be reached when using a steamer and is often targeted toward areas like carpets and mattresses.
If you’re looking for a more natural approach, vacuuming can also help in getting rid of bed bugs. Vacuum cleaners are designed to suck up the pests as well as their eggs, making it an effective solution.
While the vacuum itself won’t be able to kill the bugs, you can eliminate and slowly manage the infestation by regularly vacuuming the affected areas.
How to Deal with Bed Bugs in Cold Room Temperature?
Dealing with bugs in a colder season is a bit more challenging; however, it is possible. When temperatures start to dip, these bugs enter the state of diapause.
This is a form of hibernation that allows the pest to survive during cold winter months. They hibernate and emerge for warmer months in order to feed and reproduce.
Because of this inactivity, many homeowners are made to believe that bed bugs aren’t active during cold weather. This is a misconception, as they can still be active and mobile in colder climates.
The best way to deal with a bed bug infestation during the harsh winter season is by hiring a pest control professional. They are experienced in understanding the habits of bed bugs and can come up with a suitable solution to get rid of them – regardless of the season.
Heat treatments, traps, and sprays are among the treatments that pest control professionals rely on to get rid of bed bugs in colder temperatures. These methods can help you effectively manage the infestation and prevent them from coming back.
Final Thoughts
Overall, bed bugs prefer warm temperatures to cold ones, which is one of the reasons why they multiply, thrive, and become unruly during the warmer months. However, this doesn’t mean they can’t be dealt with during the winter season. Bed bugs are there – they’re just on diapause and are just waiting for the weather to get better before they start breeding again.
Nothing beats hiring a professional to ensure that these pests are completely eliminated and don’t come back. They have the means, tools, and expertise to control bed bug invasions – regardless of the season.
So if you suspect an infestation in your home, it’s best to leave all of the work to the experts. It’s the safest and most efficient way to address these bed bugs and ensure they don’t come back in the next seasons.
