What do bedbugs want? - briefly
Bed bugs seek human blood to obtain the protein and nutrients required for growth and reproduction, preferring a warm, protected environment close to their host. Their primary objective is to locate, feed, and reproduce efficiently.
What do bedbugs want? - in detail
Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) are driven by a narrow set of biological imperatives that dictate their behavior and habitat selection.
Their foremost requirement is a source of blood. Every developmental stage—from first‑instar nymph to adult—must ingest a fresh blood meal to progress. The meal supplies proteins and lipids essential for molting, egg production, and energy storage. Hosts are typically humans or warm‑blooded animals; the insect extracts blood through a painless bite, allowing it to feed for 5–10 minutes before retreating.
Temperature and humidity define the microenvironment they can occupy. Optimal activity occurs between 22 °C and 26 °C, with relative humidity of 45 %–70 %. These conditions sustain metabolic processes and prevent desiccation. Deviations outside this range reduce feeding frequency and increase mortality.
Shelter is another critical factor. Bedbugs favor concealed locations that remain close to a host’s sleeping area. Common refuges include mattress seams, box‑spring crevices, headboards, furniture joints, and wall cracks. The darkness and physical protection of these sites shield them from predators and disturbances.
Sensory cues guide them to suitable hosts and hiding places. Elevated carbon‑dioxide levels, body heat, and skin‑derived chemicals (kairomones) trigger host‑seeking behavior. Minute vibrations caused by movement further increase detection probability. Once a host is located, the insect uses its rostrum to pierce the skin and initiate feeding.
Reproduction imposes additional demands. Males must locate females for copulation, often using pheromones released by the female. After mating, females seek secure, dry substrates to deposit 1–5 eggs per day. Eggs are laid in protected crevices where they remain hidden from environmental stress and cleaning efforts.
In summary, bedbugs are motivated by the need for regular blood meals, a stable thermal and humidity regime, concealed refuges adjacent to hosts, chemical and physical cues that signal host presence, and appropriate sites for mating and oviposition. Each of these elements constitutes a necessary component of their survival strategy.