What can a bed bug do? - briefly
Bed bugs pierce skin to ingest blood, causing itchy, red welts and occasional allergic reactions. Their tiny size and nocturnal activity let them hide in seams, mattresses, and furniture, facilitating rapid population growth and persistent infestations.
What can a bed bug do? - in detail
Bed bugs are obligate hematophagous insects that locate hosts by sensing carbon‑dioxide, body heat, and skin odors. After a blood meal, they ingest up to five times their body weight, swelling noticeably. Digestion proceeds in two phases: a rapid uptake of plasma followed by a slower metabolism of proteins, which can last from a few days to two weeks depending on temperature and host availability.
Reproduction occurs exclusively through traumatic insemination, where the male pierces the female’s abdomen. A single female can lay 200–500 eggs over her lifespan, depositing them in protected crevices near sleeping areas. Eggs hatch in 6–10 days, and nymphs progress through five instars, each requiring a blood meal before molting. Under optimal conditions (20–30 °C, high humidity), the entire life cycle may complete within one month.
Survival without feeding is remarkable; adults can endure up to 12 months, and nymphs up to six months, by entering a state of reduced metabolic activity. This resilience enables infestations to persist through periods of host absence and contributes to the difficulty of eradication.
Feeding behavior provokes dermatological reactions. Bites typically appear as erythematous, pruritic papules arranged in linear or clustered patterns. Some individuals develop allergic responses ranging from mild itching to intense inflammation. While bed bugs are not proven vectors of human pathogens, they can mechanically transport bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli on their mouthparts.
Dispersal mechanisms include passive transport on luggage, clothing, and used furniture. Their flat, wingless bodies allow passage through cracks as narrow as 2 mm, facilitating movement between rooms and apartments. Aggregation pheromones and alarm chemicals mediate group cohesion and escape responses, respectively.
Control challenges stem from resistance to common insecticides, particularly pyrethroids. Resistance arises through target‑site mutations and enhanced metabolic detoxification. Integrated management therefore relies on a combination of methods: thorough vacuuming, heat treatments (≥50 °C for several hours), steam application, encasement of mattresses, and judicious use of licensed chemical products.
In summary, bed bugs locate hosts, consume blood, reproduce prolifically, survive extended starvation, cause skin irritation, spread via human belongings, and exhibit significant insecticide resistance, necessitating multifaceted eradication strategies.