How much blood can a bedbug drink? - briefly
A single adult bed bug ingests roughly 0.2–0.5 µL of blood per meal, equivalent to about 5–10 % of its body mass. This amount satisfies its nutritional needs until the next feeding cycle.
How much blood can a bedbug drink? - in detail
Bed bugs ingest a surprisingly small absolute amount of blood, yet the volume represents a substantial proportion of their body mass. An adult female typically draws 4–6 µL of blood per feeding, which corresponds to roughly 10–15 % of its post‑engorgement weight. Adult males, being slightly smaller, consume about 3–5 µL. Nymphs increase their intake with each molt: first‑instar nymphs take 0.5–1 µL, while fifth‑instar individuals can acquire 2–3 µL before molting.
The quantity obtained in a single meal is governed by several variables:
- Developmental stage: larger instars and adults have greater abdominal capacity.
- Sex: females generally ingest more to support egg production.
- Ambient temperature: higher temperatures accelerate metabolism and can increase feeding duration, allowing slightly larger blood meals.
- Host skin thickness and blood flow: easier access to capillaries reduces the time required to fill the abdomen, potentially limiting volume.
- Feeding interval: after a prolonged starvation period, bugs may take a larger meal than after recent feeding.
Bed bugs feed for 3–10 minutes, using a pair of elongated stylets to pierce the skin and locate a blood vessel. The engorged abdomen expands visibly, stretching the cuticle to accommodate the intake. After feeding, the insect digests the blood over 24–48 hours, converting the protein and lipid content into energy reserves that sustain it for several days. Under optimal conditions, an adult may require a new blood meal every 3–5 days; however, it can survive up to several weeks without feeding, relying on stored nutrients.
In comparative terms, the blood volume taken by a bed bug is an order of magnitude less than that of a mosquito (≈2–5 µL) but proportionally larger relative to its body weight. This efficiency enables the species to persist in human dwellings where host access is intermittent, reinforcing its status as a resilient hematophagous parasite.