How do bed bugs find a victim? - briefly
Bed bugs locate hosts by sensing body heat, carbon dioxide, and skin‑derived chemicals, then follow tactile cues across fabrics and surfaces. They travel from cracks in furniture or walls to reach exposed skin.
How do bed bugs find a victim? - in detail
Bed bugs locate a host through a combination of sensory cues and behavioral strategies.
The primary attractants are chemical and thermal signals emitted by a sleeping person.
• Carbon dioxide released with each exhalation creates a concentration gradient that bed bugs follow.
• Body heat generates a thermal plume; infrared receptors detect temperature differences as low as 0.1 °C.
• Skin‑derived volatiles, such as lactic acid, ammonia, and fatty acids, act as kairomones that guide insects toward the source.
Secondary cues include vibrations and movement. Mechanoreceptors sense rhythmic motions from breathing and heartbeats, allowing the insect to confirm proximity.
After detecting these signals, a bed bug initiates a directed search. It climbs vertical structures, such as bed frames or walls, using its tarsi equipped with adhesive pads. Upon reaching the vicinity of the host, the insect performs a probing behavior, extending its elongated mouthparts to locate a suitable feeding site.
Host‑finding efficiency is enhanced by nocturnal activity patterns. Bed bugs are most active during the night when human respiration and heat output are steady, and visual cues are unnecessary.
The integration of carbon‑dioxide detection, thermoreception, kairomonal response, and mechanosensory feedback enables bed bugs to locate and feed on a human host with high precision.