What do bedbugs fly towards? - briefly
Bedbugs are attracted to the heat and carbon‑dioxide emitted by a sleeping host, not to any airborne object. They locate these cues with sensory organs and move by crawling.
What do bedbugs fly towards? - in detail
Bedbugs lack functional wings, so they do not fly. Their locomotion relies on walking, guided by a set of sensory cues that draw them toward a host.
Heat detection is the primary driver. Specialized thermoreceptors on the antennae sense temperature gradients as slight as 0.1 °C, directing the insect toward the body heat of mammals and birds. Warm surfaces such as a sleeping person’s skin or a mattress emit infrared radiation that triggers a rapid forward movement.
Carbon‑dioxide (CO₂) gradients serve as a secondary attractant. Lab studies show that a rise of 0.5 % CO₂ above ambient levels activates the bug’s chemoreceptors, prompting it to move upwind toward the source. This response is especially pronounced during the night when human respiration peaks.
Odor cues complement thermal and CO₂ signals. Volatile compounds released by skin, sweat, and sebum—particularly fatty acids, lactic acid, and certain aldehydes—activate olfactory receptors on the antennae. The combined scent profile creates a chemical plume that the insect follows.
Visual input plays a minor role. Bedbugs are photophobic; they avoid bright light and prefer darkness. Low‑light conditions reduce predation risk and facilitate movement along the host’s silhouette.
The integration of these stimuli follows a hierarchical pattern: temperature cues dominate, followed by CO₂, then host odor, with light avoidance acting as a background modifier. When all cues converge, bedbugs exhibit a directed, rapid crawl to the host’s body, where they feed. In absence of any stimulus, they remain motionless in crevices, conserving energy.