Can bed bugs survive in the winter?

By Roisin Clausen6 min readJan 2023

We normally associate an influx of insects with the warmer weather. But some pests can still thrive in the colder weather so you can't let your guard down. Are bed bugs one of them? Can bed bugs survive in winter?

Bed Bugs Are Active All Year Round

Bed bugs begin to die off in very cold temperatures, which is why they'll love your centrally heated home. The warmth will allow them to continue to reproduce and they'll have plenty of hosts snuggled up in their warm beds to feast on.

Do Bed Bugs Hibernate?

No they don't. If they aren't in a warm home, bed bugs survive in winter by going into something called ’diapause.' This is a dormant state where they conserve their energy until they are in warmer conditions again.

Are Bed Bug Infestations Worse in the Winter?

There can be a spike in bed bug infestations in the winter because of the amount of people who travel for Christmas. Imagine all the opportunities they have to hitch a ride on people's clothing and luggage. Not to mention moving between homes and hotels and going from one host to another.

I'm travelling How Can I Prevent Getting Bed Bugs?

If you want to travel and avoid taking home any unwanted guests, here's what you need to do.

Check your hotel room as soon as you get there. Pull back the sheets and check the mattress seams. If you see dark spots, it could be a sign of a bed bug infestation. Check behind the headboard of the bed and in any crevices of armchairs or sofa beds.
Don't leave your suitcase lying open in the room incase bed bugs get in.
When you get home, check your suitcase and give it a quick vacuum before putting it away.
Wash your clothes on a hot wash or send them for dry cleaning, so you don't store them away with bed bug eggs on them. The cycle of infestation will just keep on going!

I Think I Have Bed Bugs in my Home-What Should I Do?

Now that you know bed bugs survive in winter, you can be a bit more vigilant. If you do see signs of bed bugs in your home, you may be tempted to go and stock up on smoke bombs and sprays. However, bed bug infestations can be notoriously difficult to treat on your own. Bed bugs reproduce very fast in the right conditions. They are also experts at hiding away in hard to reach spots like in between floorboards. So even if you manage to kill the bed bugs you can see, you might not get the eggs or larvae lurking in the floorboards.

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