11/07/2026
The rate at which a bed bug infestation grows and spreads throughout a property depends largely on two factors: temperature and the availability of a food source (a human host). Bed bugs thrive in temperatures between 21°C and 32°C (70°F and 90°F), where they reproduce and develop most rapidly.
Bed bugs typically feed every 3–5 days when a host is available. While DIY treatments may temporarily reduce bed bug activity, they rarely eliminate an infestation completely. Instead, incomplete or ineffective treatments can allow the infestation to persist and may contribute to increased tolerance or resistance to certain insecticides over time. They can also cause bed bugs to retreat deeper into cracks, crevices, and other inaccessible harbourages, making professional eradication more difficult.
In some cases, attempts to treat an infestation with over-the-counter insecticides may also encourage bed bugs to disperse to neighbouring rooms or bedrooms in search of safer harbourages, potentially spreading the infestation further throughout the property rather than eliminating it.
The rate at which a bed bug infestation grows and spreads throughou...
