What do bedbugs feed on if there are no humans? - briefly
In the absence of people, bed bugs obtain blood meals from other warm‑blooded hosts such as birds, rodents, dogs, cats, or bats. Prolonged scarcity of suitable hosts results in slowed development and eventual starvation.
What do bedbugs feed on if there are no humans? - in detail
Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) are obligate blood‑feeding insects. When human hosts are unavailable, they turn to other warm‑blooded animals. Their diet includes:
- Small mammals such as mice, rats, and squirrels.
- Larger mammals like dogs, cats, and livestock (cattle, pigs, goats).
- Avian species, particularly ground‑dwelling birds and nestling chicks.
- Occasionally, reptiles and amphibians that maintain a stable body temperature.
Feeding on non‑human hosts follows the same physiological process as on humans: the insect pierces the skin with its rostrum, injects saliva containing anticoagulants, and ingests the blood meal. The volume of blood taken is proportionate to the host’s size, typically ranging from 0.5 µL to 2 µL per feeding.
Survival without a blood source is facilitated by metabolic depression. Adult bedbugs can endure fasting periods of up to 300 days, while nymphs may survive several months. During starvation, they reduce activity, lower respiration rates, and retain water through excretory adjustments.
Laboratory studies demonstrate that, in the absence of human blood, bedbugs readily accept alternative vertebrate blood. Experiments using rodent or avian blood yielded normal development, molting, and reproduction. Field observations confirm infestations in animal shelters, poultry houses, and wildlife burrows where human presence is minimal.
Reproductive success depends on blood quality. Protein‑rich mammalian blood supports higher egg production compared to avian blood, which may result in reduced fecundity but does not prevent population maintenance.
In summary, without human hosts, bedbugs exploit a range of vertebrate blood sources, adapt physiologically to prolonged fasting, and retain the capacity to reproduce, ensuring persistence across diverse environments.