Can bedbugs go away on their own? No, they will not, because they can survive for up to a year without feeding and simply wait for a host to return. Florida and Georgia’s warm, humid climate lets them stay active year-round, in clean and cluttered homes alike.
TL;DR: Bed bugs will only die off on their own if a property has no food source for about a year, which is unrealistic for an occupied home. DIY sprays rarely kill every life stage, especially hidden eggs, and bed bugs hide in seams, cracks, baseboards, and furniture, not just beds. Itchy bites in lines or clusters, rust-colored stains, and shed skins are the main signs, and professional treatment is the most reliable way to eliminate every stage quickly.
Key Takeaways
- Adult bed bugs can survive up to a year without feeding by entering a dormant state, while nymphs can live for several months, so even vacant homes can stay infested.
- Bed bugs are small, flat, and reddish-brown (adults about 4 to 7 mm), and they hide in mattress seams, furniture, baseboards, electrical outlets, and sometimes behind wallpaper, not just in beds.
- Cleanliness doesn’t prevent bed bugs, because their food source is human blood and they can infest even the most pristine homes.
- Females lay 1 to 7 eggs per day, eggs hatch in 6 to 17 days, and DIY treatments often don’t target eggs and hiding spots, which makes bed bugs hard to eliminate.
- Professionals use an integrated approach, including EPA-approved insecticides, heat and cold treatments, vacuuming, and mattress encasements, to treat every life stage.
Many people dealing with bedbugs ask if the persistent pests will go away without intervention. Unfortunately, they will not. Because of the warm, humid climate in Florida and Georgia, bedbugs thrive all year round, and they are drawn to any place where people live or spend time.
Continue reading to learn more.
What Are Bed Bugs and How Do You Identify Them
If you’re not sure that the bugs you have are, in fact, bedbugs, there are a few easy ways to tell. Bedbugs are small and flat. They have a reddish-brown color, and the adult ranges from about 4 to 7 mm. Nymphs can range from 1 to about 4 1/2 mm, making them much more difficult to spot.
Bedbugs are nocturnal feeders that do not often come out in the daylight hours. They like to stay hidden in places like cracks, seams, and crevices near sleeping areas. At night, when the house is quiet, bedbugs emerge from their hiding places to feed on human blood.
Despite their name, bedbugs do not only infest beds. A house with a bedbug infestation will commonly have bedbugs living in furniture, behind baseboards, inside of electrical outlets, and sometimes even behind the wallpaper.
Another common misconception when it comes to bedbugs is that they only prefer unsanitary conditions and cluttered homes. In reality, bedbugs can infiltrate even the most pristine homes, as their primary concern is their hosts. Their food source is human blood, and how clean the property is has very little to do with their habits and life cycle needs.
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation
How do you know when it’s time to call in the pros? Here are a few signs that you have a bedbug infestation.
One of the first signs that people notice is the presence of itchy, red bits on exposed skin. Bedbug bites usually show up in clusters or straight lines, making them pretty easy to identify.
Another sign comes from feeding behavior. If you see blood stains (dark, rust-colored spots) on your bedding, mattresses, or furniture, it is highly likely that you are dealing with a bedbug problem.
You might also see signs like shed exoskeletons, eggs, or even live bugs hiding along seams and furniture joints. In areas with severe infestations, you might also smell a musty or slightly sweet smell coming from electrical outlets, behind walls, or under the bed.
Understanding the Bed Bug Life Cycle
When dealing with bedbugs, it helps to understand their lifecycle. There are three main phases of a bedbug’s life, and each of those stages provides us with some important clues about how to get rid of them and why they are so persistent.
Here’s the information converted into a clear table format:
| Life Stage | Key Characteristics |
| Egg Stage |
|
| Nymph Stage |
|
| Adult Stage |
|
Can BedBugs Go Away on Their Own
One of the main reasons that can bedbugs go away is that they can live for up to a year without feeding on a human host. That means that even in homes that are vacant for many months, bedbugs can simply lie in wait until a new food source comes along.
Bedbugs go through many life stages, each with its own feeding patterns and requirements. Nymphs, for example, are less resilient than adult bedbugs and can die off a bit faster when there are no food sources around. However, it only takes a small amount of food for nymphs to mulch and reach the next stage of their lives. Without any food, nymphs can still live for several months in a semi-dormant state. Adult bedbugs can go up to a year without feeding, and they do this by entering into a similar dormant state where they simply just wait for a new host.
In order for a bedbug infestation to just go away on its own, a property would have to have absolutely no food sources for around one year, allowing all of the bedbugs, at each of their life stages, to die off.
Luckily, there are several ways to get rid of bedbugs quickly and efficiently. A good pest control company can solve a bedbug problem in a matter of a day or two.
Why Bed Bugs Are So Hard to Eliminate
Other than an ability to go long periods without feeding, there are several other things that make it hard to kill bedbugs. For one thing, they are experts at hiding. Bedbugs can squeeze into very small areas like mattress seams and small cracks in the walls and flooring.
Bedbugs also reproduce very quickly and can create multiple generations in as little as a few months. There is no specific breeding season, so once populations become established, there is a continuous cycle of new adults infesting your home.
Another reason that bedbugs are difficult to get rid of is that they can be resistant to over-the-counter treatments. Most of the DIY treatments that are available to the general public will effectively treat adults and nymphs, but they often don’t target eggs and hiding spots.
Why Professional Treatment Is Necessary
Because bedbugs are so hard to get rid of and because they definitely won’t just go away on their own, the best course of action is to use a professional bedbug control service. Here’s why:
Professionals know exactly where to look for hidden bedbug populations. No matter how good the hiding spots are, a good team of pest control specialists can find them and guarantee a long-lasting solution.
In order to provide that guarantee, professional teams like Nextgen Pest Solutions use an integrated approach to eliminate bedbugs wherever they are and at every stage of their lives. Professionals target bedbug problems in various ways, including the use of EPA-approved insecticides, heat and cold treatments, vacuuming, and mattress encasements.
Bed Bug Prevention Tips for Florida and Georgia Homes
Getting rid of bedbugs is great, but there are also some things you can do to minimize your chances of getting them in the first place.
- Tip #1: Inspect bedding, mattresses, and furniture regularly. Do this especially after travel and having guests.
- Tip #2: Use mattress encasements to make it more difficult for bedbugs to nest.
- Tip #3: Be cautious when bringing in second-hand furniture.
- Tip #4: Vacuum regularly, especially in known hiding spots.
- Tip #5: Seal potential hiding spots like cracks and gaps.
The Fastest Way to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
To recap, bedbugs are a persistent problem that is only getting worse in populated areas. Weather conditions, tourism, and travel all play a significant role in the spread of bedbugs, and it is not an easy task to get rid of them. Since these bugs will not go away on their own, professional treatment is the fastest and most effective solution. Call Nextgen Pest Solutions today for a free inspection and quote!
