What do common bedbugs eat? - briefly
Common bedbugs feed exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm‑blooded animals, usually biting exposed skin at night. They need a blood meal every few days to develop and reproduce.
What do common bedbugs eat? - in detail
Bedbugs are obligate blood feeders. Their primary source of nutrition is the blood of warm‑blooded vertebrates, most often humans. When a host is present, an adult or nymph locates a skin surface, inserts its elongated proboscis, and draws a small volume of blood—typically 0.2–0.5 µL per feeding event. The blood provides proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates required for growth, molting, and reproduction.
Key aspects of their feeding biology:
- Host range – humans are the preferred host, but bedbugs will also consume the blood of dogs, cats, birds, and other mammals if available.
- Feeding frequency – after a blood meal, nymphs require a new meal to molt; adults may survive several weeks without feeding, but under optimal conditions they feed every 3–7 days.
- Blood intake per life stage – first‑instar nymphs ingest less than 0.1 µL, while mature females can take up to 0.7 µL, enough to produce 200–300 eggs over their lifetime.
- Digestive processing – blood is stored in a midgut lumen, where proteolytic enzymes break down hemoglobin and other proteins; excess water is excreted as a dark, liquid fecal spot.
- Feeding behavior – activity peaks at night; bedbugs are attracted to carbon dioxide, heat, and host odors, allowing them to locate a sleeping person without waking the host.
The exclusive reliance on vertebrate blood makes bedbugs highly specialized parasites. Their survival depends on regular access to a host, and any interruption in feeding can delay development and reduce reproductive output. Understanding these dietary requirements is essential for effective control strategies, which aim to eliminate host contact and disrupt the insects’ ability to obtain blood meals.