We hear a lot of the same bed bug myths from Tulsa homeowners. Most of them come down to weather and time. Here’s the truth.
Myth 1: “Bed bugs are worse in summer because of the heat.”
The truth: We do get more bed bug calls in summer, but it’s not because of the weather. It’s because of travel. Summer is when families take vacations and kids go to sports camps, tournaments, scouting trips, and sleepovers. More time in hotels, cabins, and shared spaces means more chances to bring bed bugs home.
Inside your house, the season barely matters. Bed bugs are most comfortable at normal indoor temperatures, the same ones you keep your home at all year.
Myth 2: “Putting furniture in a cold garage over winter will kill them.”
The truth: Usually not. Bed bugs slow down in the cold, but they can survive a cold garage. To kill them with cold, items need to stay at about 0°F for several days straight. Oklahoma winters swing up and down, and a garage rarely stays that cold that long. When the item comes back inside and warms up, the bed bugs wake up too.
Myth 3: “If I leave the house empty for a while, they’ll starve.”
The truth: Bed bugs are very patient. Most can live about 3 to 7 months without feeding, and in cooler conditions some last a year or longer. Moving out for a few weeks, or leaving a guest room empty, won’t starve them out. They’ll be waiting when someone comes back.
The bottom line
Weather and time won’t get rid of bed bugs for you. Catching them early and treating them properly will.
Read more: Why bed bug calls spike in warmer months and Bed Bugs and Travel
Book an inspection with Tulsa Bed Bug Specialist. Inspections are $49–$99, depending on home size and location.
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