What do bedbugs feed on? - briefly
Bedbugs subsist on the blood of humans and other warm‑blooded vertebrates, typically drawing it from exposed skin during nighttime feeding. Their diet is exclusively hematophagous, relying on host blood for all nutritional needs.
What do bedbugs feed on? - in detail
Bedbugs obtain nourishment exclusively from the blood of warm‑blooded animals. Their primary hosts are humans, but they will also feed on other mammals such as dogs, cats, rodents, and birds when available. Blood provides the essential proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates required for growth, development, and reproduction.
Feeding occurs through a specialized proboscis that pierces the skin and injects an anticoagulant and anesthetic. This allows the insect to withdraw a small volume of blood—typically 0.2–0.5 µL per meal—without the host noticing. The ingested fluid is rapidly digested; enzymes break down hemoglobin and other plasma components, delivering amino acids and energy.
Key aspects of the nutritional process include:
- Frequency: Nymphs feed every few days, while adults may extend intervals to 5–10 days depending on environmental temperature and host availability.
- Life‑stage requirements: Each molt requires a blood meal; thus, a five‑instar nymph must consume five separate meals before reaching adulthood.
- Reproductive impact: Females need a blood meal to produce eggs; each engorgement can support the development of 5–7 eggs, which are deposited in protected sites.
- Temperature influence: Higher ambient temperatures accelerate metabolism, increasing feeding rates and reducing the duration between meals.
Bedbugs cannot survive long periods without a blood source. In the absence of a host, they enter a state of reduced metabolic activity (aestivation) and can endure several months, though survival time declines sharply after six months without feeding.
Overall, the insect’s exclusive reliance on vertebrate blood dictates its behavior, habitat selection, and control strategies. Understanding the precise composition and timing of these meals is essential for developing effective management practices.