If you have a garden, you must know the nuisance of dealing with pests. After all, no one wants to see their plants destroyed by bugs munching through them.
And even if bed bugs are not the typical insects you should worry about in your garden, you might be surprised to learn that they can live outdoors for some time too!
But how long can bed bugs live outside? And what should you know about them? You are in the right place to find answers to these questions!
Do Bed Bugs Live Outside?
Many people know that bed bugs feed on human blood. So, it would make more sense for these bugs to find ways to get indoors rather than in your garden. But if they don’t have the opportunity to get inside, they will have to live outdoors for a while until they find ways to enter a home.
But bed bugs won’t live in your grass nor around your plants. Instead, they will gather around any space with furniture you might be spending time in with your family.
For instance, bed bugs won’t think twice to find places to sneak into your porch, patio, gazebo, or your barbecue area. They could also hide in pergolas, fences, clutter, any cracks in the walls they might find, and woodpiles. Even your pet’s bed can become the favorite hiding place for bed bugs. And that’s not pleasant.
Because even if bed bugs are not dangerous to people, they will leave you and your family members with bite marks or might cause severe allergic reactions. So, you will have to find ways to remove them from your property.
For these insects, spending time outdoors is not a long-term plan. After all, without feeding on human blood, they will eventually die. Also, bed bugs need dry and secure shelters.
Of course, they prefer to spend time inside because they will have constant access to their food source: you! But if necessary, they could survive up to four months outdoors. Jump to the following sections to find out how and learn about what you can do to prevent that!
How Can Bed Bugs Survive Outdoors?
Bed bugs can adapt to the environment. They will regulate their body temperatures depending on the weather conditions, which will allow them to save energy and survive with little to no food.
Because they don’t jump or fly, their only way to move around is by walking or getting on a person’s body. Despite being tiny, these insects can travel long distances (as long as the surface they move on isn’t hostile).
However, they are parasites, meaning they will always look for ways to have others do the job for them. So, their favorite means of transport is hitchhiking.
These bugs will attach themselves to clothes, shoes, and bags and travel any distance. So you may bring bed bugs to your home when buying second-hand furniture, fluffy toys, or sofas.
Bed bugs will do anything they can to move indoors with you. After all, outside, they have to deal with natural predators such as lizards, spiders, and cockroaches.
But beware, natural predators are not a reliable bed bug control solution, as they won’t be able to eliminate an entire colony of these insects. While bed bugs might be able to go without food for long, females won’t be able to lay eggs without feeding on some blood.
And every time rain falls, it poses a severe threat to the lives of bed bugs. If these insects don’t find a place to hide, they won’t survive for long.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs Infestations?
Preventing bed bugs infestations sounds easier than it is. It is hard to control their entrance to your property, as you may bring them in at any time without noticing.
But you can take several steps to prevent an infestation, such as leaving your bags outdoors overnight after a trip or washing your clothes immediately after traveling.
Also, always inspect any second-hand furniture item you may buy before bringing it inside your house. You must maintain your home clean and keep clutter to a minimum.
How Long Can Bed Bugs Live Outside?: Final thoughts
If you suspect you have bedbugs around your house, consider heat treatments in your outdoor buildings and storage units.
Plus, vacuuming garden furniture and applying insecticidal products will reduce the bugs population.
Don’t forget to seal wooden furnishing with a strong oil-based varnish to prevent bed bugs from using them as their homes.
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