What do bedbugs eat? - briefly
Bedbugs subsist on the blood of humans and other warm‑blooded vertebrates. They pierce the skin with a specialized proboscis and ingest blood, typically during nighttime feeding.
What do bedbugs eat? - in detail
Bedbugs are obligate hematophagous insects; their sole nourishment consists of the blood of warm‑blooded vertebrates. Humans represent the primary host in domestic environments, but the insects also feed on birds, rodents, and, in some regions, bats. Feeding is triggered by the detection of carbon dioxide, body heat, and skin odor, which guide the insect to a suitable site on the host’s skin.
During a single meal, an adult consumes approximately 0.5 mg of blood, enough to sustain metabolic processes for several days. Nymphs require a blood meal to progress to the next developmental stage; each molt is preceded by a feeding event. The ingestion volume increases with each successive instar, reaching the adult level after the final molt.
Blood is processed in the midgut, where proteolytic enzymes break down hemoglobin and other plasma proteins. The resulting amino acids support the synthesis of cuticular proteins, reproductive tissues, and energy reserves. Waste products, primarily nitrogenous compounds, are excreted as uric acid, which accumulates in the hindgut and is eliminated during subsequent meals.
Bedbugs can endure prolonged periods without feeding; adult females may survive up to 300 days under optimal conditions, while nymphs endure shorter intervals, typically 2–30 days depending on temperature and humidity. Elevated temperatures accelerate metabolism, reducing the fasting interval, whereas cooler environments extend survival without a blood meal.
The insects are incapable of digesting plant material, detritus, or other non‑blood substances. Their digestive physiology lacks the enzymes required to break down cellulose, lignin, or complex carbohydrates, confirming an exclusive reliance on vertebrate blood for growth, reproduction, and maintenance.