What do bedbug larvae eat? - briefly
Bed bug nymphs survive by sucking the blood of humans or other warm‑blooded animals. They must obtain a blood meal at every growth stage to progress to the next instar.
What do bedbug larvae eat? - in detail
Bed bug nymphs are obligate hematophages; every developmental stage requires a blood meal to progress to the next molt. Upon hatching, the first‑instar must locate a host within a few days, otherwise mortality rises sharply. Feeding occurs primarily at night when the host is immobile, and the insect inserts its elongated, stylet‑like mouthparts into the skin to draw blood.
The amount of ingested blood correlates with the instar’s size. First‑instar individuals consume roughly 0.2 µL, while fifth‑instar nymphs can take up to 5 µL per feeding. Each meal supplies the protein and lipid reserves necessary for synthesis of the cuticle and for the hormonal cascade that triggers ecdysis.
Host range includes:
- Humans
- Domestic animals (dogs, cats, livestock)
- Wild mammals (rodents, raccoons)
- Birds (particularly in aviaries)
Bed bug nymphs do not survive on alternative food sources; they lack the enzymatic machinery to digest plant material or carrion. In laboratory settings, deprived nymphs can persist for several weeks without feeding, but growth and molting cease until a blood meal is obtained.
Feeding frequency diminishes with age: early instars require a meal every 3–5 days, whereas later stages may extend the interval to 7–10 days under favorable temperature and humidity conditions. The ingestion of blood also triggers the production of digestive enzymes (proteases, lipases) that break down hemoglobin and serum proteins, providing amino acids for cuticle formation.
In summary, the developmental success of bed bug larvae hinges on regular access to vertebrate blood, which supplies the nutrients and hormonal signals essential for each molt and eventual maturation into reproductive adults.