How do bedbugs feed and how long do they live? - briefly
Bedbugs use a needle‑like proboscis to puncture the skin, inject anesthetic and anticoagulant saliva, and then draw blood. Adults can survive 6–12 months, often living several months without a meal, while nymphs develop into adults within weeks.
How do bedbugs feed and how long do they live? - in detail
Bed bugs locate a host by sensing body heat, carbon‑dioxide, and kairomones released from skin. Once a suitable spot is identified, the insect inserts its elongated, needle‑like mouthparts—comprising a fascicle of stylets—through the epidermis. Saliva containing anticoagulants and anesthetic compounds is injected, preventing blood clotting and numbing the bite site. The bug then draws blood through the canal formed by the stylets, typically ingesting 0.2–0.5 µL per feeding event. Feeding duration varies from five minutes to half an hour, depending on the host’s blood flow and the insect’s hunger level.
After a meal, the insect retreats to a concealed harbor, where digestion proceeds. The blood is broken down by enzymes, providing nutrients for egg production and molting. Female bed bugs require a blood meal to initiate oviposition; each can lay 1–5 eggs per day, up to 200–300 over a lifetime. Eggs hatch within 6–10 days under optimal temperatures (25–30 °C). Nymphs pass through five instars, each requiring a blood meal before molting to the next stage. The interval between molts shortens as temperature rises, ranging from 4 days (warm conditions) to 14 days (cooler environments).
The adult stage can persist for several months without feeding, especially in cooler climates. Under favorable conditions—moderate temperature, high humidity, and regular access to blood—adults may live up to a year. In laboratory settings, some individuals have survived 14 months without a host. Longevity is influenced by:
- Temperature: 20–30 °C maximizes survival; extremes accelerate mortality.
- Humidity: 70–80 % relative humidity supports longer life; desiccation reduces lifespan.
- Feeding frequency: Regular blood meals extend reproductive period and overall life expectancy.
Overall, the feeding cycle drives growth, reproduction, and survival, while environmental factors dictate the maximum duration an individual can remain viable.