How do house bedbugs bite? - briefly
They pierce the skin with a slender proboscis, inject saliva that contains anticoagulants, and feed on blood for several minutes. The resulting bite appears as a small, red, itchy welt, frequently arranged in a line or cluster.
How do house bedbugs bite? - in detail
House bedbugs locate a sleeping host by sensing carbon‑dioxide, body heat, and movement. Once a suitable spot is identified, the insect climbs onto exposed skin and begins to feed.
The feeding apparatus consists of elongated stylets housed within an elongated beak. The outer stylet pierces the epidermis, while the inner stylet delivers saliva and draws blood. The stylets are capable of penetrating the superficial dermal layers without causing immediate pain.
The bite sequence proceeds as follows:
- Host detection: detection of CO₂ and thermal cues guides the insect to the bite site.
- Positioning: the bug anchors its legs and aligns the beak perpendicular to the skin surface.
- Penetration: the outer stylet creates a narrow channel through the epidermis.
- Saliva injection: saliva containing anticoagulants, vasodilators, and anesthetic compounds is released, preventing clotting and masking the bite.
- Blood uptake: the inner stylet draws fluid into the gut; feeding typically lasts 5–10 minutes per location.
- Detachment: the bug withdraws its stylets and retreats to a hiding place.
Saliva components keep the wound open and numb the area, which explains the delayed appearance of itching or redness. After feeding, a small, red, raised spot may develop within hours, often accompanied by a mild pruritic reaction. Repeated bites can merge into larger, irritated patches.
Understanding each step clarifies why bedbug bites are often painless at first, why lesions appear later, and how the insect efficiently extracts blood while remaining undetected.