During the winter months, there is truly nothing better than coming home after a long day and curling up in bed with a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea. The last thing Maryland homeowners want to encounter is a bed bug infestation that will ruin a cozy night.
Out of all of the common household pests, bed bugs are some of the most distressing to deal with. Bed bugs can infest a home extremely fast, despite how clean you keep your house, and are notoriously difficult to get rid of.
These pests are expert travelers and tend to hitchhike on luggage, clothing, and secondhand items, which is how they are able to enter and infest homes so quickly. Once bed bugs are inside your home, they can multiply at fast speeds and leave you with itchy bites on your body and stains on your mattress.
Many homeowners tend to notice bed bugs more during the winter months when these pests make their way indoors to seek shelter from the cold weather. If you suspect you may be dealing with a bed bug infestation, here is everything you need to know about the behavior of these pests during the winter.
Do Bed Bugs Die in the Cold?
Bed bugs can die in cold temperatures, though they will typically need to be exposed to temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit for four consecutive days to effectively kill an entire population.
During the winter months, bed bugs will often seek shelter indoors to avoid perishing outside, which is why many homeowners may encounter these pests during the colder months.
Do Bed Bugs Hibernate?
While bed bugs do not hibernate, they enter a diapause state. Diapause is a dormant state in which bed bugs slow down their activity to save their energy until the cold weather has passed.
During diapause, their metabolism slows down and allows them to survive without feeding for months at a time.
Are Bed Bugs More Prevalent in the Winter?
While a bed bug infestation is possible any time of year, these pests tend to be more prevalent during the winter months due to their tendency to seek shelter indoors.
During these months, people also travel more using public transportation, making them more likely to unknowingly pick up bed bugs and bring them back to their homes. These pests are expert hitchhikers and will often latch onto luggage, clothing, and other belongings to seek shelter indoors where it’s warm.
Signs of Bed Bugs
During the winter months in Maryland, it is especially important for homeowners to know the signs of a pest infestation. There are several signs of a bed bug infestation to familiarize yourself with, including:
- Itchy bites on exposed skin, often in a zigzag, line, or random pattern
- Blood spots on mattresses or furniture
- Fecal matter (small, brown spots)
- Eggs and eggshells (small and pale yellow in color)
- A sweet, musty odor in the home
- Molted skins
- Seeing live bed bugs
If you suspect you may have bed bugs, read our guide on how to check for bed bugs to be accurate.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs During Winter
Preventing bed bugs during the winter months isn’t as difficult as you may think. Some things you can do to reduce your chances of encountering a bed bug infestation include:
- Decluttering your house regularly
- Keeping up with a regular cleaning schedule
- Carefully inspecting all secondhand items before bringing them into your home
- Washing your bedding in hot water
- Seal cracks and crevices in the home
The Importance of Year-Round Protection Plans Against Bed Bugs
While bed bugs may be more common during the winter months, they can infest a home at any time of the year. Because of this, it is important for homeowners to have a year-round pest protection plan.
Hiring a professional exterminator to inspect, treat, and monitor your home for potential future infestations is your best defense against these pests.
At Pest Czar, we offer quarterly bed bug treatments to prevent these pests from invading your home, especially during the winter months when they are more active.
We use a solution called Aprehend, which is a fast-acting, non-toxic, and EPA-registered biopesticide that kills adult and nymph bed bugs in just a few days. Aprehend is only available through professional pest control companies, so be sure to contact a trusted pest control professional to take care of the bed bugs in your home.
FAQs
How do bed bugs stay active during the colder months?
During the winter months, bed bugs stay active by entering a state called diapause. Diapause is a semi-hibernation state in which their metabolism slows down, allowing them to survive without eating for months. During the cold winter months, bed bugs may also seek shelter in homes.
Does winter weather reduce the risk of bed bug infestations?
No, winter weather does not reduce the risk of a bed bug infestation in a home. During the winter months, bed bugs will often seek shelter indoors to get out of the cold weather, which is why many homeowners may encounter these pests this time of year.
Can freezing be an effective way to kill bed bugs?
Yes, freezing can be effective and is commonly used as a method to kill bed bugs. However, it is important to note that you will need to freeze whatever item they have infested for several days in order to effectively kill an entire bed bug population.