Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed bug science, "experiments," etc.
Entomology questions......
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spideyjg
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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Jul 22 2008 14:45:48
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I know the adults can go dormant for up to 18 months,seen in many sources, and survive without feeding but what about life expectancy under starvation for other stages?
Also will all eggs hatch after a period of time so anything bagged for lets say 2 months is gonna be full of hatchlings if anything but no eggs to worry about?
Jim
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Jim,
Everyone seems to cite Usinger on this issue of longevity. I don't have access to it but someone here reproduced the information in the relevant table some time ago, for all life stages:
http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/classic-bed-bug-book-now-available-in-paperback#post-1079
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lieutenantdan
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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Jul 22 2008 15:45:58
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I find that opinions differ in the life expectancy question just as old timers like me have seen opinions differ and information change in the last so many months on many questions about bed bugs and treatments.
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spideyjg
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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Jul 22 2008 15:48:24
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Bitchen! The warm SoCal temps mean the little bastards will starve much faster.
Unless I bagged up an adult female, come October they may have all starved.
Hmmmmmmmm I'm gonna put the sealed bags in a sunny place to speed up their metabolism and expidite the starvation. Mhahahahahahahahahahah!!!!
Ain't gonna hurt anything but the bugs.
Jim
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Temperature & humidity are key factors that influence a bed bug life span.
As the temps become warmer the bed bugs life span becomes shorter. Lower humidities help dry them out & reduce their life expectancy too.
The level of activity has an influence as well. We have trouble keeping specimens alive for more than a couple months because the bed bugs are disturbed daily during training.
The research published by Usinger reported the longest survival times were observed in the group that was kept at 50d F with a humidity of 70%. When researchers raised the temp to 97d F the life span average for the specimens dropped from 484 days to 32 days.
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spideyjg
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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Jul 22 2008 18:23:56
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How do you disturb them Doug? Nudge the container? I'm not gonna open it but curious if there is something I can do to make them take laps around the bag.
I had some dessicant packs and didn't know about low humidity reducing life span. Dang!
God forbid I ever have to do this again, but I like having more weapons should I need them.
Jim
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We move the vials around the room to new locations for the dogs to find during training.
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spideyjg
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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Jul 22 2008 21:12:32
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So they must not be in an air tight container then. Do they start going bonkers due to movement or because the hungry little vermin detect you as food?
Just wonder if movement alone I can shuffle the bags to wake them up and burn off a day or 2 of life making laps.
Jim
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fightorflight
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Jul 23 2008 4:09:24
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Weeee... that means any bugs I've trapped in storage should be long dead before they've got a chance to escape and colonize mice or prairie rats or whatever. I mean, temps now are hitting close to 100 F in the shade and come winter, they'll spike to below zero during December (the Colorado prairie experiences a continental climate). Woo-hooo, you're going die sooner than later, you little effers! Of course, some art work and other sensitive belongings might be destroyed too, sigh...
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The vials have a fine mesh screen across the top.
If you hold the vial the bed bugs become active & move toward the heat generated by your fingertips. They are also sensitive to movement.
They become more active, if you breathe through the screen mesh or allow one to feed.
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spideyjg
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Jul 23 2008 12:59:21
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Weeeeeeee!!!!! exactly FoF. As LieutenantDan would say in that war room speak, intelligence has revealed another weakness of the enemy that can be exploited. :)
Me likee.
Hmmmmm if the 18 month comes from Usinger's data would it be wrong to cite his findings of higher temps = shorter life.
Thanks Doug. Doesn't sound like thumping the bag or container will do much. They sit in the apartment where the temp is 80+ and in the afternoon the sun hits them so that warmth may have the desired effect.
Jim
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I would think actions that discourage the bed bugs from becoming dormant might be helpful.
Raising the ambient temperature would be the tactic that is actually supported by the research we have been discussing.
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spideyjg
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Jul 23 2008 14:24:09
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Another life question. What is their life expectancy if they feed? From my understanding most insects don't live very long lives anyhow.
I hope they burn themselves out in a couple of months.
I'll shake their bags every now and then for the hell of it. I told someone else suffering to put their bagged stuff in the hottest part of the place.
I like the Usinger data that at 99F the little fuggers only lasted about 40 days at max. I'm not opening jack squat for a looooong time but I'll keep them as warm and toasty as I can over the summer. :)
Jim
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thebedbugresource
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Jul 23 2008 21:39:23
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There are many studies out there that demonstrate how temperature and humidity affect the development of bed bugs.
An example;
A once fed first instar nymph will pass to the second instar in 20 days at 99F.
A once fed first instar nymph will pass to the second instar in 197 days at 50F.Sincerely,
Sean.
Entomologist/Pest Professional
www.thebedbugresource.com -
spideyjg
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Jul 23 2008 22:53:13
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Thanks Sean.
There may be studies but I haven't run across them so I figure ask the knowledge base here.
Crap! I found on your site the little bastards if fed can live up to a year. :(
Jim
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fightorflight
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Jul 24 2008 0:15:03
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What have you all been reading? Don't the oft-referred-to findings (Uselessinger, et. al.) lead to a recommendation to seal and store your belongings for 18 years? In a space capsule. ;o)
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spideyjg
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Jul 24 2008 0:47:53
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Actually you store it until your stuff turns to oil and then they drown in it. ;o)
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kjdrga
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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Aug 8 2008 12:34:53
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What if first stage nymph doesn't feed...how long can it last? I feel like I should crank the heat up in the house just to help this process along!
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In laboratory conditions, anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months depending on temperature. You can read the table yourself by following the link provided at the top of the thread (it's part of the classic bed bug book thread).
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spideyjg
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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Aug 9 2008 13:05:51
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Labs and reality can be different. However there is no doubt based on the study that the warmer it is the shorter their life under starvation.
The study was based on the stages after a feeding. Maybe there is data but it stands to reason a first stage nymph that hatched in a bag and never fed is not going to last as long as one that fed.
However the chart is the only study that I have found so bear those things in mind.
The stuff you bagged, put it in the warmest place you can. I moved ours to where the sun would hit the bags in the afternoon and the ambient temp here is high 70's.
Jim
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