How do indoor bedbugs bite? - briefly
Bedbugs pierce the skin with a proboscis, inject anticoagulant‑rich saliva, and then ingest blood for several minutes before withdrawing. The bite often leaves a small, red, itchy wel‑worn spot.
How do indoor bedbugs bite? - in detail
Bedbugs locate a host by sensing body heat, carbon‑dioxide, and skin odors. When a suitable person is detected, the insect climbs onto exposed skin, typically around the neck, face, arms, or legs, where the skin is thin enough for easy penetration.
The feeding process consists of several precise steps:
- The bug anchors its mouthparts, a sheath‑like proboscis, to the epidermis.
- Using a pair of razor‑thin stylets, it pierces the outer skin layer and reaches a superficial blood vessel.
- Simultaneously, the insect injects a minute amount of saliva that contains anticoagulants, vasodilators, and anesthetic compounds. These agents prevent clotting, widen the vessel, and numb the bite site, allowing the bug to feed unnoticed.
- Blood is drawn continuously for 5–10 minutes, during which the bug can ingest up to 0.03 ml of blood, roughly equivalent to its own body weight.
- After engorgement, the proboscis is withdrawn, and the bug retreats to a concealed harbor such as a mattress seam, furniture crevice, or wall void.
The bite itself leaves a small, reddish‑purple puncture that may swell into a raised, itchy welts within hours. Reactions vary: some individuals develop only a faint discoloration, while others experience pronounced inflammation due to hypersensitivity to the saliva proteins.
Key factors influencing the bite’s appearance include:
- Feeding duration – longer attachment results in larger blood spots.
- Saliva composition – different strains may produce varying levels of anesthetic and anticoagulant substances.
- Host immune response – prior exposure can amplify skin reactions.
Understanding these mechanisms aids in recognizing infestations early and implementing targeted control measures.