Have you ever got bitten by a bed bug? How did you feel? I am sure that you were so itchy, angry, and annoyed because I had a problem with it one time. At that time, I put an old blanket beneath my bed and tricked the bugs into it; then I grabbed them all with a plastic bag and had some treatments. And now, I am answering your question: “How long do bed bugs live in a plastic bag?”
How long do bed bugs live in a plastic bag?
First, we have to know some information about this annoying insect.
What is a bed bug?
A bed bug is a kind of insect which feeds on the blood of humans. It is so small that you have to look carefully and closely to find it. Bed bugs are light brown and change to reddish brown when they are full of blood. They have an oval, flat shape, and no wings.
Where do bed bugs live?
To answer the question: “how long do bed bugs live in a plastic bag?” we have to know about their shelters.
Bed bugs live in cracks, crevices, and the area near beds, clothes, and backpacks. Like their name, bed bugs often go out to seek human blood when people are sleeping in beds. But how do bed bugs get into your place?
There are some common ways that a bed bug can come to your house. For example, you travel and stay in a hostel, homestay, or hotel, but it’s dirty, messy, and smelly. This kind of place may attract many bed bugs. They will get into your luggage, backpacks – because that is where they like – and go along with you to your home, but you don’t know.
How long do bed bugs live?
Without eating, bed bugs can live for a year. Without oxygen, they can still survive for days, weeks, or even months because they don’t need much air to breathe like humans. Some of them can live even after regular pesticide treatment, and therefore, you need professional treatment to get rid of them in your house.
It is not easy to eliminate bed bugs thoroughly, but using plastic bags to kill them is one of the most popular ways. So, how long do bed bugs live in a plastic bag?
How long do bed bugs live in a plastic bag?
As I said before, this insect species can live up to months inside a plastic bag sealed tightly. They need blood to feed more than air to breathe. It is even worse when your plastic container is not air-tight enough or has any rips; bed bugs still live and find their ways out. As a reason, we need other treatments after trapping bed bugs into plastic bags, and here they are.
How to kill bed bugs
Bed bugs don’t die in a plastic bag if you do nothing at all. Below are some of the ways to treat this annoying insect.
Dry
Bed bugs cannot survive in the hot-tempered environment, which is at least 49 degrees Celsius. Get the infested clothes, garments, backpacks, and blankets into a dryer; then set the high heat for 10 to 20 minutes. For “dry-clean only” stuff, please make sure that they are completely dry before putting them into the dryer; then start the machine with medium heat setting. But how to kill bed bugs in furniture that cannot be washed or dried?
First, wrap the items into a plastic bag, which should be black because the black bags absorb more heat and high temperature. Then, place all these items outside in direct sunlight for at least 24 hours. You should also choose the sunniest and hottest day for best efficiency while making sure the temperature inside the bag is about 49 degree Celsius.
Freeze
Bed bugs do not only die by heat, but also by cold temperature. Freezing them with a temperature of -18 degree Celsius is also an excellent way to kill bed bugs.
Also, place the items which are already wrapped by plastic bag outside on the coldest winter day and wait for two or four days. If it is at – 7 degree Celsius, it takes about a week for bed bugs to die.
Therefore, “how long do bed bugs live in a plastic bag?” may not be as important as what you do to eliminate bed bugs after trapping them into the plastic container.
Use specialized insecticide
As I said before, some of the bed bugs can still survive after a standard pesticide treatment. We have to use a pesticide specifically named for bed bugs use.
Because bed bugs live in many hidden places such as cracks, crevices, beneath the beds, clothes, and garments.. Thus, please choose carefully the kind of pesticide used for cracks, rooms, furniture, or mattresses. After that, read the instruction before starting to spray the whole apartments or houses. Remember to wrap all food and dishes before starting.
Conclusion
How long do bed bugs live in a plastic bag? There is no exact time to determine how long a bed bug can live in a plastic bag, but it is not easy to be killed. Bed bugs can live without eating for a year and without oxygen for up to a month. If your plastic bag is not sealed tightly or has some rips, they can find the way out.
Bed bugs are annoying, but now you know several ways to get rid of them in your house. However, prevention is better than cure, and somehow, it is easier. If you haven’t experienced any problem from bed bugs, you are lucky and have good health. But what if you encounter this problem one day?
