How Long Can Bed Bugs Live without Oxygen

When you have tried various ways to get rid of the Bed Bugs but none of them worked, you may totally give up. You may suddenly think about trying to kill them by placing them in non-oxygen containers, as no living organisms can live without oxygen, right?

However, you may think twice when you see that they can really survive in both temperatures (hot and cold). Then, you may be wondering whether or not the Bed Bugs can really survive without oxygen. If you really want to know about it, thankfully, this post will show you the real information below!

How Long Can Bed Bugs Live without Oxygen?

This question also comes to your mind when you really find it difficult to kill the Bed Bugs at your home. What we will emphasize here is that the Bed Bugs cannot survive without oxygen, just like most creatures.

Most research shows that the Bed Bugs will suffocate without oxygen and will die as little as 8 hours. The researchers that conducted this study actually used highly specialized equipment which is not available to the general public.

The people who already know that Bed Bugs cannot survive without oxygen, they reportedly place their infected items in plastic bags in hopes that finally the Bed Bugs will die from the lack of the air. Unfortunately, you cannot really kill the Bed Bugs when placing them in a plastic bag, as they will stay alive in a low oxygen level.

It’s important to note, there will be plenty of oxygen left for Bed Bugs to survive in a container of any type. The way to place them in a plastic bag will still give them a chance to survive for about 8 hours. So, that is not a great way to kill them quickly.

Can You Kill the Bed Bugs Without Oxygen?

After knowing that Bed Bugs cannot survive in a lack of oxygen, it may be helpful to develop future Bed Bug treatment, but it is not a perfect option for homeowners. In fact, it is very difficult to deplete oxygen levels to a degree which will influence Bed Bugs, since they need so little air to survive in the first place.

Space bags, vacuum sealed bags and other products which can remove air can be used to lower the length of time which you will be without your items. However, it is not a very effective and efficient solution.

Actual times that Bed Bugs can survive in those types of low-air environments will depend on several factors such as humidity, temperature, the amount of air remaining and how recently the Bed Bugs have eaten.

In those types of situations, reports of complete Bed Bug death will range from one week to several months. Because of those factors, accurate estimates will not be given and other extermination methods are actually recommended.

Even though it is possible to suffocate Bed Bugs, it may be a hard way to try and cannot guarantee the results. The better options to get rid of the Bed Bugs include cold, heat, chemical spray and desiccants.

Aside from that, you can also use a combination of those tried and tested methods to get the best results. You can also try to use some chemical products that have been registered with EPA.

How to Get Rid of the Bed Bugs Without Oxygen?

Since they cannot survive without oxygen, you can take advantage of containers, plastic bags and others. However, they can still survive, as there’s still plenty of oxygen in a container or plastic bag.

To successfully suffocate Bed Bugs, you will need an airtight bag or container. The Bed Bugs should be sealed within. However, it’s not easy to find an airtight bag large enough for such a task. So far, placing them in an airtight bag or container may be a viable option for smaller items like electronic devices and clothing. Unfortunately, it can not be used for a larger object such as bedding, chair, pillow, etc.

How to Kill the Bed Bugs Faster?

As we’ve mentioned, placing the Bed Bugs in a plastic bag or container cannot really kill them faster, as they can still survive with plenty of oxygen available in the container. In addition to placing them in an airtight container, you can still do several methods to kill the Bed Bugs faster.

Here they are:

Method 1: Use Vacuum

Using a vacuum is the easiest and fastest way to get rid of the Bed Bugs. Instead of placing them in an airtight container, it would be better for you to try vacuuming any infected items such as bedding, chairs and furniture at your home.

You can also use vacuum pack bags and remove as much of the oxygen as possible. Without oxygen, adult Bed Bugs, nymphs and eggs cannot survive for more than 8 hours. When you choose a vacuum in your fight against an infestation, you will need a product which can be reliable to use and powerful enough to create secure suction deep within carpet fibers and fabric. Sure, you need to choose a vacuum which is installed with a HEPA filter to make sure it is impossible for insects to escape after being captured.

Method 2: Temperature-Based Treatments

It is known that Bed Bugs are very sensitive to temperature. They will not last very long if things get too cold and too hot. Certainly, you can take advantage of temperature-based treatments to kill the Bed Bugs.

The most effective and efficient method to kill the Bed Bugs is to increase the temperature. Some researchers revealed that the Bed Bugs cannot survive for more than 1 a week in hot temperatures, above 113 degrees Fahrenheit. They cannot also live below 25 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 3 weeks. If you maintain the temperature for at least 20 minutes, you can really make them die.

Method 3: Using chemical substance

If you decide to use a chemical substance, it is better for you to use the chemical product with EPA-registered. It is known that there are some chemical substances that effectively work to kill the Bed Bugs.

Here’s a list of safe chemical substances that you can use to kill the Bed Bugs: