How do household bed bugs bite humans? - briefly
«Bed bugs pierce the skin with a slender proboscis, inject saliva that contains anticoagulants, and then draw blood». The resulting bite typically appears as a small, red, itchy spot that may develop into a raised welt.
How do household bed bugs bite humans? - in detail
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) locate a host by detecting body heat, carbon‑dioxide, and skin odors. Once a suitable area is identified, the insect climbs onto exposed skin, typically during nighttime when the host is immobile.
The feeding process proceeds as follows:
- The bug pierces the epidermis with its elongated, needle‑like mouthparts called stylets. The stylets are guided by sensory receptors that locate a blood vessel.
- Saliva containing anticoagulants, anesthetic compounds, and enzymes is injected into the wound. Anticoagulants prevent clotting, while anesthetic agents reduce the host’s perception of the bite.
- Blood is drawn through the stylet lumen into the bug’s foregut. A single feeding episode may last from five to ten minutes, during which the insect can ingest up to 0.2 ml of blood.
- After engorgement, the bug withdraws its mouthparts and retreats to a hidden harbor, such as mattress seams, cracks in furniture, or wall voids, where it digests the meal and proceeds to egg production.
The bite itself often leaves a small, erythematous, raised spot. Reactions vary: some individuals experience only mild irritation, while others develop pronounced itching, swelling, or secondary infection due to scratching. The delayed onset of symptoms—typically 12–48 hours after feeding—contributes to difficulty in early detection.
Effective control requires interruption of the feeding cycle. Strategies include:
- Regular inspection of sleeping areas for live insects, shed exoskeletons, and fecal spots.
- Removal of clutter that provides harborages.
- Application of approved insecticidal treatments to cracks, seams, and baseboards.
- Laundering bedding and clothing at temperatures above 50 °C (122 °F) to kill all life stages.
Understanding the precise mechanics of blood acquisition informs both medical diagnosis and pest‑management protocols.