Can Bed Bugs Climb or Fly? Understanding Their Movement

Bed Bug Behaviour and Biology: The Science That Makes Heat Treatment Work

Bed bugs are expertly adapted to live alongside us. Understanding their behaviour and life cycle is the key to controlling them quickly and humanely. This article explains the science behind bed bug survival, why some DIY methods fail, and why controlled, whole-room heat treatment delivered by specialists is the most reliable way to end an infestation.

If you are weighing up options, professional bed bug heat treatment is designed specifically around how these insects behave in real homes and businesses.

What people believe vs reality

Myth: bed bugs only live in dirty homes. Reality: they are opportunistic hitchhikers and will exploit any sleeping area, clean or not. Myth: they only live in beds. Reality: they harbour wherever it is dark and tight—bed frames, skirting boards, sockets, wardrobes, fabric seams, and even behind loose wallpaper.

They do not fly or jump. They crawl, using heat, CO₂ and human odours to locate a host. Adults can survive for months without feeding, and eggs are remarkably resilient, which is why brief or superficial treatments often disappoint.

Science-backed facts about bed bug biology

• Life cycle: egg → 5 nymphal stages → adult. Each nymphal stage requires a blood meal before moulting, so interruptions to feeding can slow development but won’t necessarily kill them.
• Hiding behaviour: they prefer narrow crevices and cluster near sleeping areas. Expect harbourages within 1–2 metres of the bed, but heavy infestations spread further.
• Resistance: many populations show reduced susceptibility to common insecticides, which leaves eggs untouched and nymphs protected in cracks.
• Thermal tolerance: the crucial question is what temperature kills bed bugs. In practice, eggs are the most heat-tolerant stage, so professionals design treatments to exceed egg-lethal temperatures and hold them long enough to penetrate deep harbourages.

Common mistakes that prolong infestations

• Using household heaters or hairdryers: they create dangerous hot spots and deeper cold spots, driving bugs deeper into the structure without achieving a lethal core temperature.
• Over-relying on sprays and foggers: many products don’t reach hidden eggs, and foggers can scatter bed bugs into new areas.
• Moving belongings room to room: this spreads the problem. Isolate, bag, and treat items methodically.
• Partial laundering: washing cool or skipping a high-heat dry cycle leaves eggs viable in seams and folds.

Practical advice you can do safely

• Launder bedding and clothing at 60°C and tumble dry on high heat until items are fully dry and hot to the touch.
• Reduce clutter and bag items by zone; avoid moving them through clean areas. See our guidance on preparing your home for treatment.
• Isolate the bed: pull it 5–10 cm from the wall, lift bedding off the floor, and fit interceptors under the legs to monitor activity.
• After any treatment, monitor your property after treatment for several weeks; no new faecal spots, cast skins, or captures in interceptors is a strong sign of success.

Why heat treatment is the superior solution

Whole-room heat treatment works because it is designed around the biology of the most resilient stage: the egg. Professionals raise ambient room temperatures to levels that kill all life stages, then hold those temperatures long enough for heat to penetrate deep into bed frames, furniture joints, wall voids and fabric folds.

• Cold spots eliminated: expert teams manage airflow and sensor placement to remove shadowed, under-heated pockets where eggs otherwise survive.
• Sustained lethal temperature: we don’t just “hit” a peak; we hold lethal thresholds over time so harbourages and item cores reach kill temperatures.
• Sensors and monitoring: multiple probes sit in worst-case locations (mattress seams, sofa frames, sockets) to verify core temperatures in real time.
• All life stages killed: when delivered correctly, heat neutralises eggs, nymphs and adults in one structured operation, avoiding the lag and resistance issues common with chemicals.

For a step-by-step view of the equipment, airflow management, and temperature logging, see our bed bug heat treatment process.

ThermoPest expertise

ThermoPest specialises in precision heat remediation for both homes and businesses. Our teams integrate scientific monitoring, methodical preparation and careful aftercare to minimise disruption and confirm results. For households, we tailor plans to your rooms and furnishings; for organisations, we scale rapidly and discreetly with commercial heat treatment for hotels and landlords.

If you are deciding your next step, professional bed bug heat treatment is the most predictable route to a one-visit resolution, followed by structured monitoring to guard against re-introduction.

FAQ’S

Question: What temperature actually kills bed bugs and their eggs?

Answer: Bed bugs die reliably when their core temperature is raised above lethal thresholds and held there. Adults and nymphs succumb quickly once core temperatures exceed roughly 50–52°C, but eggs are tougher and require higher targets plus dwell time. Professional heat treatments typically drive room air to around 56–60°C and maintain lethal conditions long enough for the coldest spots and item cores to catch up. Avoid DIY heaters; they create cold spots that spare eggs. In professional practice, multiple sensors confirm that even hard-to-heat locations have reached and held lethal temperatures.

Question: Why do bed bugs seem to return after spraying?

Answer: Often it’s not a new infestation but surviving eggs hatching after the chemical has degraded, or bugs sheltering where sprays never reached. Some populations are less susceptible to common insecticides, and eggs are naturally shielded in crevices. Whole-room heat overcomes this by killing all stages in one pass, then monitoring verifies success. Fit interceptors under bed legs to detect any late activity. In professional practice, we distinguish re-infestation from re-introduction (new bugs brought in later) using date-stamped monitoring evidence.

Question: Can washing or freezing eliminate bed bugs on belongings?

Answer: Yes, for small items—if done correctly. Washing at 60°C followed by a high-heat dry cycle will kill all stages present on washable fabrics. Freezing at −18°C can work if items reach core temperature for several days, but domestic freezers vary and dense objects warm when handled. Bag small items flat and freeze for at least 4 days before thawing sealed. In professional practice, laundering and selective freezing complement whole-room heat but rarely replace it.

Question: How long does a professional heat treatment take?

Answer: Allow a working day for a typical home: setup, controlled heating, dwell time, and cool-down commonly take 6–8 hours, larger or cluttered spaces longer. The crucial phase is holding lethal temperatures long enough to eliminate cold spots and penetrate furniture cores. You should receive temperature logs showing sensor readings over time. Plan to be out during the treatment and return after cool-down. In professional practice, duration is tailored to room size, construction, and contents.

Question: How can I be sure the bed bugs are truly gone?

Answer: Don’t rely on bite patterns—use evidence. After treatment, install interceptors under bed legs, inspect for new faecal spots or cast skins, and track captures over 4–6 weeks (the egg-to-nymph window). No fresh signs, no captures, and no visual sightings strongly indicate success. Keep the bed isolated and bedding off the floor during this period. In professional practice, we pair monitoring with a follow-up inspection to confirm eradication.

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