At what temperature do bed bugs and their eggs die? What temperature is needed for the death of bugs and their larvae? From what home bed bugs die

House bugs are known to be afraid of frost. But answer how much bugs and frost Worth taking out furniture on a cold winter day is not easy. Bedbugs die in the cold not right away. Depending on the temperature threshold, the time required for their complete destruction can be different. In which cases the bugs die, and in which they just sleep, scientific experiments will show.

The answer to the question of are bedbugs afraid of frost, suggests how to minimize insecticide spraying. This is important for those who can hardly tolerate the consequences of such procedures, for example, allergy sufferers. If house bugs do die in the cold, it is wise to use it.

In addition, chemical agents, as practice has shown, are far from omnipotent against insects. Bedbugs have adapted to 90% of insecticides, and disinfectologists are looking for alternative ways to control these insects.

Finally, our country is characterized by long winter periods with frosty weather. Whether it is rational to use the "climatic weapon" for the season - to take out the contaminated furniture or cool the room, we will figure it out further.

Does frost kill bedbugs

It is logical to assume that, like any heat-loving insect that avoids, bedbugs will die in the cold.

Scientifically, extreme temperatures can cause protein denaturation in insects and, as a result, irreversible damage to nerves and muscles. This effect leads to the fact that bedbugs die in the cold. Or not?

Not so simple. As living things, insects are endowed with defense mechanisms against various stressful situations that they fear.

You may be surprised to learn that bed bugs, whose body is 70% water, survive in severe frosts for several hours and even days!

Bed bugs are resistant to low temperatures for a number of reasons.

First, the bodies of individual insects contain high concentrations of antifreeze proteins and cryoprotectants such as glycerin, which lower the freezing point of body fluids below the freezing point of water. This directly affects how bed bugs tolerate winter and frost.

Secondly, some individuals can withstand hypothermia... This is the name of the state in which the liquid does not freeze, even when the temperature drops significantly below the freezing mark. How does this happen?

For example, pure water, consisting only of oxygen and hydrogen, is supercooled down to -42˚ without being covered with ice. Natural water containing impurities freezes at 0˚С. These impurities are crystal-forming agents around which ice forms and spreads. The process is called heterogeneous freezing.

But since there are no such substances in pure water, crystallization occurs spontaneously, as soon as the critical temperature of hypothermia is reached. This freezing is called homogeneous. When the slightest ice crystal appears, supercooled water begins to freeze quickly.

In this video, supercooled distilled water quickly crystallizes after shaking the bottle:

Of course, insects freeze and die during this process. Is it any surprise that bedbugs, once in the cold, try to minimize the water content in the body and avoid external contact with ice crystals.

Thirdly, hypothermia is associated with diapause- a period of passive life cycle, during which the metabolic rate decreases and development is suspended. Before entering diapause, the insect empties its intestines in order to remove the very crystal-forming agents that are contained in the impurities of ordinary water.

The ability of bedbugs to go without food for a year and withstand a slight frost has developed with the ability to go into a state of "hibernation".

Scientists have already found bacteria that can provoke crystallization. In the future, these studies will help in the development of insecticides that reduce the resistance of insects to cold.

However, some frost-resistant species have developed a different defense mechanism. At the extracellular level, they can withstand a certain degree of freezing, and deliberately promote crystallization at higher temperatures to prevent death from spontaneous homogeneous freezing.

As you can see, in the question of whether it is possible to kill bedbugs with frost, there are many pitfalls. Yet their abilities are not limitless. What do scientists know about how long bugs live in the cold, and what degree below zero is fatal for them?

How many bugs live in the cold

Let's make a reservation right away that there are currently too few scientific studies on this problem to declare accurate data with confidence.

It is all the more interesting to learn about the results of a study conducted in 2013 at the University of Minnesota, published in the publication of the American Entomological Society.

It is, of course, very cold! But bed bugs can die at less critical temperatures if they are frozen long enough. Researchers placed insects by age group in freezers at different temperatures, and removed them at regular intervals. The purpose of the experiment was to study the ratio of bed bugs to die in frost, depending on the indicators of the thermometer and chronometer.

It turned out that among all age stages, except for eggs, there were no significant differences in survival rates. In addition, the results were not affected by the fact whether the bug was hungry or full.

The authors of the study recorded that 100% death of bed bugs at a temperature of -16 ° C occurs no earlier than after 80 hours. To know for sure whether the bugs will die in 15-degree frost, you need to keep them there for at least 3.5 days. At -20˚С - 48 hours. It is noteworthy that the eggs retain their viability when exposed to temperatures below -25 ° C for a short time.

Bed bugs and frost: is it worth fighting this way

Obviously, this method of fighting has its pros and cons. A clear advantage is that toxic drugs are not used, which means it is harmless to health and the environment.

Also, unlike pesticides, frost treatment does not develop resistance in insects. This is especially true for those countries where it is forbidden to use organophosphorus compounds in the fight against insects. Some professional disinfection services in the west use special equipment that generates ice microparticles from carbon dioxide.

But even these companies admit that the use of freezing gives results only in combination with chemical control agents.

The effectiveness of frost treatment is very limited, mainly due to the fact that it has no residual effect. A frost generator can be used to treat all foci of infection found in an apartment, but it is almost impossible to find and destroy every insect, and even more so eggs.

However, some small items, such as books or toys, can be placed in the freezer if contamination is suspected. Considering that the temperature in household freezers is from -15˚C to -20˚C, they must be kept for 3-4 days.

As for gadgets and other electrical appliances, you should be careful, as not all of them are designed for exposure to low temperatures and can break.

If, nevertheless, you decide to freeze electronic devices, be sure to place them in a tightly closed plastic bag to prevent condensation. After removing the device, do not turn on the device until it naturally warms up to room temperature.

Does it make sense to pull out a sofa and other large furniture outside in winter? Here again, the data obtained by scientists from Minnesota will come in handy. It is necessary to take into account whether the air temperature is low enough, whether there are significant changes during the day, and calculate from the diagram how much your furniture needs to be kept in such frost.

But there are important nuances here. Keep in mind that in those folds and crevices in which insects are hiding, the temperature may never drop to street level within the specified time frame. At the same time, it is unlikely that it will be possible to visually determine in what state bed bugs are in the cold - they fall asleep or die. Whether it is worth applying this measure, given the costs and uncertainties, needs to be determined on the basis of the circumstances.

In winter, bugs bite just like any other. However, in cold weather, it is unlikely that bugs will crawl from neighbors through a window or balcony. Insects can move from apartment to apartment through ventilation, through sockets and risers, so you should be on your guard.

And the last thing: it is clearly not worth trying to remove bedbugs in the house, turning off the heating in winter and opening wide all the doors and windows. Even if you manage to cool the house down to 20 degrees below zero and keep it in this state for several days, there is still no 100% guarantee of success. After all, bedbugs will look for their chance in the most protected secluded places from the cold.

But whether the house will be suitable for housing after such a procedure is a big question.

Sources:

"Cold Tolerance of Bed Bugs and Practical Recommendations for Control" Published September 2014 // Journal of Economic Entomology
"Bed Bugs can Survive Frost but Cold can Still Kill Them" Published December 2013 // Entomological Society of America

When a certain level is reached, the temperature can destroy domestic bed bugs. If the zero or negative temperature lasts for a relatively short time, insects will tolerate it normally. However, prolonged exposure to negative temperatures will kill them.

The lifespan of a bug depending on the climate

Bed bugs are highly dependent on the climatic conditions of the environment. The most comfortable conditions for them are “home” conditions. There are two factors in which pests will feel at ease:

climate stability;
constant access to food.

House bugs feed on human blood because they cannot penetrate the fur or skin of the animal. The most comfortable temperature for the life of a bug is 24-27 0 C, which corresponds to room temperature.

The very life cycle of these insects is directly dependent on the climate:

Eggs have a dense protective shell that protects embryos from the harmful effects of the environment. It is thanks to her that they are very hardy, including to temperature extremes. Embryos die only at very low temperatures (-30 0 C) or at very high temperatures (+ 55 0 C), in contrast to adults or larvae. However, in order to stop their development, it is enough and -7 0 C.

It is recommended to freeze bedbug eggs in a room that is resistant to subzero temperatures, and in a region where the air does not warm up above -15 0 C for a relatively long time in winter. This "freezing" must be done at least twice: this guarantees the death of the entire colony, even the part that survived after the first frosts.

At what temperature do bed bug larvae die?

Adult bed bugs die from exposure to critical temperatures - below -20 0 C or above +45 0 C. Young larvae have weaker protection and can die at -15 0 -17 0 C.

If the temperature is -17 0 C, the bug lives no longer than 24 hours, but, as a rule, death occurs within 2-3 hours. At + 20 degrees, they can live from 20 minutes to 2-3 hours. At + 50 degrees Celsius, at whatever stage of development the bug is, it almost instantly dies.

Bed bugs retain the ability to reproduce in the range from +10 to +35 0 C. However, there are precedents when successful breeding of bed bugs was recorded at a temperature of +9 0 C. This ability is possessed by bugs that have recently lived in caves.

In most cases, 10 degrees of heat is enough to stop the ability of eggs to develop, which makes it impossible for the colony to reproduce.

Knowing the temperature of death of domestic (bed) bugs, thermal control of them becomes possible. Despite the fact that this method of struggle is inferior to the chemical method, it is possible to achieve the desired result through it. Here are several options for thermal effects on bedbugs at home:

Freezing the entire room. In winter, it is necessary to open air access to the room and bring the temperature to -20 0 C. This is a very effective method, but it cannot be used in rooms where water supply pipes run, as they can burst. In addition, the paint and varnish covering the furniture in the apartment may peel off.
Freezing part of the interior of the room. A sofa chair or mattress can be taken out to the balcony or outside and left there for 2-3 days. This will most likely help, but some of the bugs may remain in the room, having escaped from the furniture.
Steam generator (steam cleaner) or fan heater (thermal gun). The first is able to perform local treatment of the place where bedbugs live with a hot jet of steam, while the death of insects occurs instantly. The second one heats the air to the required temperature and maintains it for 2-3 hours, with a high degree of probability this method will kill bedbugs in the apartment.
Boiling water treatment. This is not the most convenient way, because you cannot fill the room with water, and the bed linen can shrink after such exposure.
Ironing. Set the maximum degree on the iron and carefully iron the things in which the bugs have settled on both sides.

All of these methods are inferior to chemical pest control, it is the most reliable way to get rid of bed bugs in an apartment.

Are bedbugs afraid of hot steam?

Hot steam successfully kills bedbugs, a jet of hot steam can reach a temperature of 90 0 C, which will not leave any chance for the pests. Such a jet can be achieved by using a household steam cleaner or steam generator.

The steam generator produces dry steam so you don't have to worry about damaging your furniture. The steam cleaner works on a similar principle, therefore, in the absence of a steam generator, it can also be used.

The disadvantage of a steam generator is that the steam jet may not reach secluded areas. Therefore, cracks or joints will need to be processed additionally in another way.

When using the steam generator, the following rules must be followed:

exclude places where there are sockets and wiring from the steam spray area;
do not aim at varnished surfaces, as well as on wood and glass surfaces;
monitor the amount of moisture. It shouldn't be too high.

Can bedbugs be frozen at home?

Washing temperature for bedbug control

In addition to bed bugs, there are also so-called bed bugs. They can be killed by washing things in a certain way. The rules differ for machine and hand wash.

Handwash

For hand wash you need:

Pour boiling water into a bowl.
After loading linen into the basin, you need to cover it with plastic wrap to keep warm.
Add powder and start washing.

Machine wash

Rules for washing in a washing machine:

Wash at a temperature of at least 60 degrees.
Better to set it to 95 degrees.
Washing must take at least 60 minutes.

After the things are dry, you need to go over them with an iron with a steaming function.

There are several factors due to which bedbugs can appear even in a sterile apartment:

At temperatures from twenty to twenty-five degrees of heat, bugs live longer - up to fifteen months.

If the ambient temperature drops below the plus fifteen degrees, then the larvae stop developing, and the adults fall into suspended animation. In a similar state, they can spend up to eighteen months.

Critical temperatures are a means of fighting bedbugs

High temperatures are fatal to bedbugs. But at what temperature does the bug die? Fifty degrees above zero kills him in minutes. The life of an individual is reduced to thirty minutes if it finds itself in an environment where the temperature reaches forty-five degrees. The maximum lifetime of a larva is a day.

Bed bugs are also sensitive to cold. Ten degrees of frost makes them go into suspended animation. Fifteen degrees below zero are fatal to bedbugs. But they die only when this temperature persists for more than three days. Minus twenty degrees - and the bug dies in a few hours. The larvae stay for two days and then die.

Steam and boiling water against bedbugs

When it is already known at what temperature the bug dies, you can proceed to the next step - their destruction. First you have to decide which of the two methods to use: exposure to high or low temperatures.

There are many advantages to using high temperatures against bedbugs. Among them:

Harmless to the human body. Only clean water is used for disinfection.
It is quite simple to treat surfaces with steam or boiling water; this is an excellent answer to the question "how to get rid of bed bugs in an apartment on your own."
Water and steam help get rid of insects living in clothing and bedding without using insecticides.

Disadvantages of the method:

Steam does not penetrate crevices.
Unable to clear book bugs.
Steam can damage electrical appliances.

Low temperatures and freezing

Having figured out at what sub-zero temperature the bugs die, you can begin to destroy them by freezing.

In cold seasons, bugs move closer to the warmth - to apartments and houses. You can freeze them only when the thermometer records fifteen degrees below zero. In such cases, it is necessary to open the windows wide open and leave the room in this state for several days.

Disadvantages of the method

Suitable mainly for non-residential premises.
During disinfection, the decoration of the apartment may suffer.
Pipes may not withstand critical temperatures.

Safety precautions when dealing with bedbugs

When using the steam generator, do not point it at people, varnished furniture or wallpaper.
It is better to take out all plastic items while the room is warming up.
Low temperatures to combat bedbugs can only be used in rooms where there are no sewage and heating pipes.

If you can't get rid of bedbugs on your own, then the only way out is to seek help from specialists.

Sometimes even in the apartment, where they regularly clean and maintain hygiene, insects start. The reasons can be the following factors:

Unclean neighbors. Bedbugs have a flat body, until they pump blood, they can use tiny crevices and freely move from one apartment to another. Insects move not only on horizontal surfaces, but also on vertical ones. Therefore, ventilation shafts are also routes of movement for them.
Dogs and cats... Animal blood is not suitable for bedbugs. But they are very fond of using them as transport. One female, caught in an apartment on a dog, can become a breeding source for an entire colony.
Travel and travel. Bedbugs are often brought in suitcases from business trips when people stay in budget hotels. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to choose more decent hotels, or hand over all things, including bags, to the dry cleaner.
Used furniture... Buying furniture off-hand can be fraught with risks. You cannot be sure that bedbugs have not chosen a sofa or chair. Therefore, it is better to purchase new furniture, where the appearance of insects is, in principle, impossible, or to take preventive measures, which are described below.

Features of the bug body

To understand at what temperature the bug dies, you should familiarize yourself with its vital functions. From the time of appearance of the larva to the sexually mature individual, an average of one month passes. But this requires a temperature of about 25 degrees. An insect has a life cycle of a year.

However, if the temperature in the room drops to 15 degrees, then sexually mature individuals fall into suspended animation and can hold out for about 18 months.

Critical indicators

Too high and extremely low degrees are destructive for most insects. It should be remembered at what temperature the bugs die:

Such conditions can be allowed only in winter conditions, and the low temperatures are not always kept for the required time.

Steam use

When you find out at what temperature the bugs die, you can use the knowledge to destroy them, without the use of chemicals. Freezing can be used if conditions permit, or exposure to high temperatures.

However, even experts admit that killing insects is a challenge. If you do not strictly follow the recommendations, they may appear again. But, knowing at what temperature the bug dies, you can completely remove them.

Using a professional steam generator. A similar device is often used by special disinfection services. The method has an undeniable plus. You can immediately process a large surface, while the method is safe for humans. Hot steam completely destroys not only adults, but their larvae.
You can use a thermal gun. A similar thing applies when installing a stretch ceiling. With its help, you can warm up the air to 60 degrees. If the exposure time is at least 30 minutes, then the complete death of insects is guaranteed.

At what washing temperature do bed bugs die?

When bed bugs appear, it is important not only to get rid of the furniture and mattress. The laundry can also contain larvae. It is important to know at what temperature bed bugs die and set the required mode for washing. Processing will be effective if the regulator shows at least 90 degrees.

In this case, ironing should not be neglected. Using the maximum values, it is necessary to iron the laundry from both sides.

Advice. To remove bugs from the cracks in furniture and from under the baseboards, pour boiling water in a stream.

Pros of using steam

The method is safe for humans. This method uses only clean water and a steam generator. Processing does not require special skills, you can handle it without the involvement of special services.

The use of steam is suitable for killing bedbugs on bed linen and clothing. But the use of chemicals can harm tissue fibers and cause allergic reactions.

However, the method also has negative aspects. It will not work to process books with its help. In addition, electrical appliances can also be damaged.

Having found out at what low temperature the bugs die, you can take advantage of the situation. If the weather is appropriate outside (below 15 degrees Celsius), then you can open the windows and leave the apartment for three days. If you are lucky with the weather, and the thermometer will show 20 degrees below zero, then a day will be enough for complete destruction.

The greatest effect is given by the removal of furniture to the street. This is especially true for sofas, beds and dressers. In any case, it is better to get rid of all the furniture that you do not mind.

Advice. If you managed to find a nest of bedbugs and the weather is warm outside, it is better to put it in a bag and freeze it in the refrigerator. This measure will help to get rid of insect reproduction and their spread on pet hair.

Disadvantages of freezing

I have to leave the apartment for several days and leave the windows wide open. Not everyone can afford this method. But for non-residential premises, the method is optimal.
If wallpaper is glued in the house, then they can move away due to low temperatures. Other finishes may also suffer.
The heating system may become unusable. In the worst case scenario, heating radiators burst.

To avoid such problems, only furniture can be taken out in the cold. Slots and ventilation ducts must be treated with insecticides.

Safety precautions when dealing with bedbugs

The use of low and high temperatures allows you to effectively, quickly and safely remove bedbugs from the apartment. But it is important to observe safety precautions:

Hot steam can cause severe burns; therefore, the steam generator must not be directed at yourself, other people or animals.
Some items cannot withstand high temperatures. Therefore, you cannot process lacquered furniture, wallpaper and fabrics that are afraid of hot steam.
If the steam has a temperature of more than 70 degrees, then the plastic surfaces are deformed.
The steam generator can be adjusted to the desired humidity. High rates are not needed, the bugs will die at a lower one. But furniture can deteriorate from exposure to high humidity.
It is necessary to freeze the apartment when the heating system and sewerage system are turned off.

Using professional equipment

Specialized services use bulky but powerful heat generators. They quickly raise the air temperature to 65 degrees. In such conditions, the bugs die, even if there is no direct impact on the nest.

Such units are expensive and bulky. They are used only by professionals, but the achieved effect is 100%. Therefore, if there is no possibility or desire to conduct an independent fight with intruders, it is recommended to call the appropriate service.

Professionals work under a service agreement. The cost of processing depends on the area to be treated and the method of control. In most cases, a steam generator is used and subsequent treatment of hard-to-reach areas with aerosols. The tools used are safe and the whole treatment will take less time than wrestling yourself.

Finally

Information about the temperature at which the eggs of bedbugs die, and sexually mature individuals helps to do without the use of insecticides. Bedbugs are very tenacious, but there are extreme indicators that even they cannot withstand. Therefore, if conditions allow, sofas and armchairs can be taken out into the cold.

A different situation is possible. In the heat of summer, the interior of the car gets very hot. Therefore, clothes and linen can be placed there and the machine can be left in direct sunlight. However, to prevent infection with car seat bugs, the interior is treated with disinfectants after the procedure.

Bed bugs leave bites on the body. They are especially dangerous for children. Therefore, if you find them, you should immediately get rid of them.

The bug is an extremely unpleasant neighbor, which you need to get rid of as quickly as possible. These hemiptera insects feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. That is, they, by and large, do not care whether it is rodents, birds or humans. In addition to houses, bedbugs perfectly settle in hollows and holes, in stumps and under the bark of trees. This means that they have learned very well to adapt to external conditions and withstand different temperatures. This creates a certain problem when ridding your home of annoying insects. However, there is a solution.

Method of infection

It would seem, why do we need to know at what temperature the bug dies if such a “beast” does not live in a modern house. Believe me, no one is immune from such an invasion. The bug can "arrive" in the house with pieces of furniture or new things. The fact is that in warehouses and production bases, the sanitary situation often leaves much to be desired. Bedbugs can remain after the work of a construction crew of hired workers. In addition, they will calmly come to you from neighbors who lived and this, if they started repairs. Therefore, it is desirable for each of us to know at what temperature the bug dies. Then you will be able to meet the uninvited guest fully armed.

First signs

If the house is old, and the repair has not been done for a long time, then it will not be easy to remove the insects. It is necessary to take all things, furniture, carpets to the street, to carry out high-quality repairs. If the removal of the floors is not intended, it is recommended to call a team that will carry out a chemical remediation. After its completion, all things will need to be carefully processed. The methods that are suitable for this, we will describe below.

From reliable sources

Scientists have repeatedly conducted studies to establish at what temperature the bug dies. Despite the highest adaptability, it does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature at all. This is what you can use to cleanse your home from insects. At the same time, it was found that the comfortable temperature regime in insects is very limited, which also plays into our hands.

Desert life

In fact, the surprisingly tenacious insects will not give up quickly. If in winter the thermometer in the apartment rises above 30 degrees, your neighbors will only be happy. And at what temperature does the bug die? Only if the bar rises above 45 degrees. Moreover, it must be maintained for at least an hour. It is clear that this cannot be achieved in a natural way, so you have to think.

We begin to inspect the premises

So, problem areas have been identified and you know at what temperature domestic bugs die. Collect all bedding and wash at +90 degrees. Modern cars allow you to do this. If the bed has removable pillows, then take them out into the hot sun. The best option is to put them in a car left in the sun. The temperature in it will rise above +50 o C, and all insects will die. Try to take all pillows and blankets, blankets and mattresses, sofas and armchairs outside in the same way so that they cook in the sun for several days. All things are recommended to be ironed with an iron at a temperature acceptable for the fabric.

Bed bug offspring

Below zero

And we continue to talk about the temperature at which bed bugs die (including bed bugs). In addition to raising the temperature, you can try to freeze annoying insects. As for the frost, everything is not so simple here. At -10 degrees, they will fall into suspended animation, but will withstand a fairly long time. If the thermometer drops below -17, then the bugs may die, but this effect should persist for 3-4 days. Will you hold out?

Practical application of frost

Scientists did not stop at guesswork and rushed to check at what temperature bugs and larvae die. It was found that first of all there is a decrease in the temperature of the fluid in the body. After it crystallizes, the process can be considered irreversible. Thus, through numerous experiments, it was proved that -16 degrees is enough, but such a temperature regime should be maintained for at least 80 hours. The lower the temperature, the faster the process of death of insects will go. A critical mark is considered to be an indicator in the range of -25 ... -30 o C. If it is possible to turn off the heating system and open all windows and doors in severe frost, then after a few hours it will be possible to quietly close everything and warm up the dwelling again.

However, there are also some nuances here. Eggs tolerate low temperatures much better than high temperatures. It is not always possible to keep the house unheated for several days, so you can take all things, upholstered furniture and carpets out in the cold and leave it for several days. During this time, whitewash the walls (if you do not have wallpaper), wash all floors well, and warm up the rooms with a steam generator. The work is finished, you can bring things back and put them in their places.

Instead of a conclusion

Now you know what the temperature needs to be for the bugs to die. This can be achieved in different ways. We have offered a number of proven options, but each of you can probably add a few more to them. Remember that bed bugs are not only annoying creatures, but also carriers of various diseases. Therefore, the fight against them must be carried out without fail, as soon as you suspect the presence of uninvited guests in your home.