Insects called bed bugs infest buildings and cause uncomfortable bites by feeding on blood. Bed bugs can go without feeding for 20 to 400 days, depending on temperature and humidity. Older stages of nymphs can survive longer without feeding than younger ones, and adults have survived without food for more than 400 days in the laboratory at low temperatures.
How Long Do Bed Bugs Live Without a Host?
Adults may live up to one year or more, and there can be up to four successive generations per year. They can survive for several months without a host, depending on various factors such as temperature, humidity, and access to food.
Temperature
The temperature of the environment plays a significant role in their survival. Bed bugs thrive in temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. At temperatures below 50 degrees, they will enter a state of hibernation and can survive for much longer periods of time without a host. In hot and dry environments, they will dehydrate and die more quickly.
Humidity
Humidity also plays a role in bed bug survival. They prefer environments with high humidity, as it helps to keep their bodies hydrated. In dry environments, they will dehydrate and die more quickly.
Conclusion :
Access to food is a significant factor in their survival. They require blood to survive and reproduce, so without a host, they will eventually die.