What do bedbugs like to eat? - briefly
Bedbugs feed exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm‑blooded animals, piercing the skin with specialized mouthparts. They are most active at night when hosts are at rest.
What do bedbugs like to eat? - in detail
Bedbugs subsist exclusively on vertebrate blood. Their mouthparts are adapted to pierce skin and draw liquid nourishment from the host’s circulatory system. Humans constitute the primary source in residential infestations, but the insects will also feed on birds, rodents, dogs, and other mammals when available.
Feeding occurs primarily at night when the host is immobile. A single meal provides enough protein and lipids to sustain the insect for several days; the volume of blood ingested ranges from 0.2 µL in early instars to 5 µL in adult females. After engorgement, the bug retreats to a protected harbor to digest the meal, a process that lasts 12–24 hours. During digestion, hemoglobin is broken down into amino acids, while lipids are stored for future metabolic needs.
Key aspects of their nutritional ecology include:
- Host selection: Preference for warm-blooded animals; humans are favored due to frequent exposure in indoor environments.
- Feeding frequency: Adults may require a blood meal every 3–7 days under optimal conditions; reduced temperature or limited host access extends the interval to several weeks.
- Blood composition: High protein content fulfills the insect’s requirement for egg production; lipid reserves support embryogenesis and molting.
- Digestive physiology: Enzymes such as proteases and lipases facilitate rapid breakdown of hemoglobin and fatty acids, allowing efficient absorption.
Understanding these feeding dynamics clarifies why bedbugs thrive in densely populated settings and why control measures must disrupt access to blood sources.