What do bedbugs go after? - briefly
Bedbugs target the blood of warm‑blooded hosts, chiefly humans, drawn by body heat, carbon dioxide and skin odors. They feed by piercing the skin and extracting the host’s blood.
What do bedbugs go after? - in detail
Bedbugs are obligate blood‑feeding insects that locate hosts by detecting a combination of physiological and environmental cues. Their sensory apparatus is tuned to signals that indicate the presence of a warm‑blooded animal.
Key attractants include:
- Carbon dioxide exhaled during respiration; concentrations rise near sleeping individuals.
- Heat emitted by the body; temperature gradients guide insects toward the source.
- Skin volatiles such as lactic acid, ammonia, fatty acids, and certain aldehydes; these chemicals form a distinctive odor profile that triggers host‑seeking behavior.
- Moisture from sweat and breath, which enhances the olfactory signal.
Additional factors that increase the likelihood of infestation are:
- Darkness and low light levels, which provide a safe environment for movement and feeding.
- Clutter and crevices in furniture, bedding, and wall seams that offer hiding places during daylight hours.
- Proximity to a sleeping surface, especially mattresses, box springs, and headboards where hosts remain stationary for extended periods.
Feeding occurs primarily at night. The insect inserts a proboscis into the skin, injects an anesthetic and anticoagulant cocktail, and ingests blood within a few minutes. After feeding, it retreats to a concealed refuge to digest the meal and reproduce.
Host range extends beyond humans to include birds, rodents, and other mammals. Preference for humans stems from their frequent use of beds and the consistent availability of the aforementioned cues.
Conditions that deter activity comprise:
- Temperatures below 15 °C (59 °F), which slow metabolism and reduce mobility.
- Bright illumination, which interferes with navigation and increases exposure to predators.
- Materials treated with repellents such as silica gel or certain essential oils, which mask or neutralize attractant signals.