How Long Can Bed Bugs Live in an Empty House?

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Answering your questions about a bed bug’s lifespan when there’s no food source in sight
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No one likes to see bed bugs around the house, especially in a property that you own. But if there’s no one living there or if you can stay somewhere else for a while, can the bed bugs live without you? The answer is yes, and we’re here to tell you just how long bed bugs can live without a human host. We’ll also let you in on some of their favorite hiding places, as well as some expert-backed strategies to get rid of them. To take care of your bed bug problem once and for all, read on.

This article is based on an interview with our MMPC-certified pest control specialist, Kevin Carrillo. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

  • Bed bugs can live for 3 to 5 months without feeding, especially in moderate temperatures and high humidity levels.
  • If there are no human hosts around, bed bugs will resort to feeding on pests and other animals.
  • Look for bed bugs hiding inside or around furniture. If there’s no furniture in the home, check any cracks in the walls, behind electrical outlets, or underneath floorboards.
  • Get rid of bed bugs by vacuuming daily and washing soft items on high heat. Call an exterminator to inspect your property and get rid of the bugs for good.
Section 1 of 4:

How long can bed bugs live without food?

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  1. Bed bugs can live 3 to 5 months without a host.
    There are a few factors that can impact whether or not a bed bug can survive, but at moderate temperatures and humidity levels, adult bed bugs can last over 150 days without feeding.[1] In fact, the longest recorded time of a bed bug living without food was 400 days, but that was in a lab under optimal conditions.
    • The average lifespan of a bed bug is 10 months to 1 year. However, during that time they will be mating and laying eggs, ensuring new generations of bugs for years to come.
    • Keep in mind that while bed bugs only feed on blood, they don’t just target humans. Bed bugs will feed on rodents, pets, and other animals if they have to.
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Section 2 of 4:

Factors That Affect Bed Bug Survival

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  1. Step 1 Temperature
    Bed bugs can withstand a wide temperature range, but extreme cold or warm temps will kill them. In general, temperatures below 25 °F (−4 °C) and above 119 °F (48 °C) will kill bed bugs.[2]
    • Bed bug eggs can survive in temperatures up to 130 °F (54 °C).
  2. Step 2 Humidity
    Bed bugs thrive in high relative humidity zones. Studies have found that adult bed bugs can live for long periods of time in 75% to 100% humidity. However, as the humidity decreases, the lifespan of adult bed bugs does, too.[3]
    • Low humidity levels (meaning levels under 15%) can kill bed bugs in a matter of hours. Their bodies don’t perform well under dry conditions, because they need moisture to survive.
  3. Step 3 Age
    Older bed bugs can survive longer without a meal than younger bed bugs can. While adult bed bugs might be able to last months, young bed bugs may only survive for a few weeks.[4]
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Section 3 of 4:

Where do bed bugs hide in empty homes?

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  1. Step 1 Bed bugs will hide inside any furniture left in the home.
    Typically, bed bugs will congregate in areas where people sleep or rest, like beds, couches, and chairs. Even if there are no humans in the home, bed bugs will still flock to the furniture inside.
    • Identify bed bugs by looking for soft, red excrement on mattresses and box springs.
    • Alternatively, examine yourself or anyone in the home for itchy, red bites, especially right after you wake up.
  2. Step 2 Bed bugs may also hide in the walls, electrical outlets, or floorboards.
    Unfortunately, simply removing furniture won’t get rid of bed bugs for good. Since these bugs are so tiny, they can easily fit inside cracks in the wall, behind electrical outlets, behind loose trim or molding, and underneath floorboards. Check for bed bugs in these areas if the home is empty or you can’t find them on any furniture.[5]
    • Bed bugs are nocturnal, meaning they mostly come out at night. However, you can find bed bugs during the day by checking any nooks and crannies in the home.
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Section 4 of 4:

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

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  1. Step 1 Seal your mattress and box spring inside a plastic cover.
    If there’s still a bed in the home, cover it with plastic to suffocate and kill bed bugs. Buy a plastic cover for both your mattress and your box spring, then seal the bed bugs inside. The warmth from the plastic will speed up the process, and the bed bugs will be dead in a month or two.[6]
    • Once the bed bugs are dead, uncover your mattress and vacuum up any dead bugs you see.
  2. Step 2 Clean up any clutter in your home.
    Bed bugs love to hide in cluttered areas, so pick up any garbage or clothing on your floor. Focus on the areas around your bed specifically, since bed bugs like to stay nearby wherever humans sleep.[7]
  3. Step 3 Vacuum your home every day.
    Vacuuming will suck up live bed bugs and their eggs so you can dispose of them. Vacuum your home, focusing on areas like carpets, baseboards, molding, and trim. Empty the vacuum bag into the outside garbage right away to keep the bed bugs from crawling back out again.
  4. Step 4 Steam treat your home.
    Since steam is hot, it will automatically kill bed bugs and their eggs. Buy or rent a steamer, then make multiple passes over areas where you’ve spotted signs of bed bugs. Do this daily until you don’t see bed bugs anymore.
    • Steam is great for soft fabrics and materials that can’t be washed, like couches, carpets, and curtains.
  5. Step 5 Wash and dry soft items on high heat.
    If you know the bed bugs are on any clothing, curtains, or bedding, throw them into the washer and wash them on high heat. Then, dry them in the dryer on the highest heat setting. Since bed bugs can’t handle a high temperature, the heat from your washer and dryer will kill them.[8]
    • Have any items that can’t be washed? Bag them up in plastic bags to suffocate the bed bugs. They’ll be dead in 1 to 2 weeks.
  6. Step 6 Contact a professional exterminator.
    Getting rid of bed bugs is tough, especially when you’re doing it on your own. When you first notice bed bugs, contact a professional right away so they can come out and inspect your home.[9]
    • Professionals will often use heat treatments or pesticides to kill bed bugs and their eggs.
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References

  1. ↑ https://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/347BBMyths.pdf
  2. ↑ https://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/347BBMyths.pdf
  3. ↑ https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/47/6/987/992893?login=false
  4. ↑ https://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/347BBMyths.pdf
  5. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs
  6. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/do-it-yourself-bed-bug-control
  7. ↑ https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/pests/bedbugs.htm
  8. ↑ https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/pests/bedbugs.htm
  9. ↑ https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/emergingdiseases/Folder2/Getting_the_Bed_Bugs_Out_Guide.pdf?rev=d873b1084bdf424bbb36c084feac9413

About This Article

Kevin Carrillo
Written by:
Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC
This article was written by Kevin Carrillo and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News. This article has been viewed 46,342 times.
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Updated: March 20, 2024
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Categories: Bed Bug Control
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