How much blood does a bedbug drink from a person? - briefly
An adult Cimex lectularius usually consumes 0.2–0.5 µL of blood in a single feeding, equivalent to about 0.001–0.002 % of its body mass.
How much blood does a bedbug drink from a person? - in detail
A single adult bed bug (Cimex lectularius) typically ingests 0.2–0.5 µL of human blood in one meal. The volume corresponds to roughly 5–10 % of the insect’s body weight, which ranges from 5 mg in males to 7 mg in females. Feeding occurs during the night, lasting 5–10 minutes, after which the bug retreats to its harbor to digest.
Key factors influencing the quantity taken include:
- Host availability: Frequent contact with a sleeping person allows multiple feedings per night for some individuals.
- Life stage: Nymphs require smaller meals (≈0.1 µL) than mature insects.
- Temperature: Warmer environments accelerate metabolism, prompting larger or more frequent blood meals.
- Physiological state: After a long fasting period, an adult may consume a near‑maximum volume to replenish reserves.
On average, an adult may feed once every 3–5 days, resulting in a cumulative intake of 1–2 µL per week. Over a lifespan of 6–12 months, a single bug can ingest 30–70 µL of blood, equivalent to the volume of a few drops.
Comparisons with other hematophagous insects illustrate the modest scale: a mosquito draws 0.001–0.01 µL per bite, while a flea consumes 0.1–0.2 µL. Bed bugs therefore occupy an intermediate niche, taking more per event than mosquitoes but far less than larger parasites such as ticks.
Measurement techniques include microcapillary tubes for direct volume collection and gravimetric analysis, where the weight gain of a fed bug is recorded with a microbalance. Both methods consistently report the 0.2–0.5 µL range for adult specimens.
The cumulative blood loss from a moderate infestation (≈10 bugs) is negligible for a healthy adult, amounting to 2–5 µL per day. However, in vulnerable individuals or severe infestations, repeated feeding can lead to skin irritation, anemia, or secondary infections, underscoring the importance of control measures.