What do couch bedbugs feed on? - briefly
Couch bedbugs, scientifically known as Cimex lectularius, subsist on the blood of humans and, when necessary, that of other warm‑blooded mammals. Feeding typically takes place at night while the host is asleep.
What do couch bedbugs feed on? - in detail
Couch bedbugs are obligate hematophages; their survival depends on regular ingestion of vertebrate blood. Adult females require blood to produce viable eggs, while each nymphal stage must obtain a blood meal to molt to the next instar.
The principal source of nourishment is human blood. Feeding typically occurs at night when the host is immobile, triggered by body heat, carbon‑dioxide exhalation and skin volatiles. In the absence of humans, the insects will exploit alternative warm‑blooded hosts, including:
- Dogs and cats
- Rodents such as mice and rats
- Birds that rest in close proximity to infested furniture
Blood supplies the proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and iron necessary for growth, reproduction and metabolic maintenance. Each meal provides sufficient nutrients for a single developmental event: a nymph uses one blood intake to complete a molt, and an adult female uses a meal to develop a batch of eggs.
Feeding frequency varies with life stage and environmental conditions. Newly emerged nymphs may feed every 3–5 days, whereas mature adults typically ingest blood every 5–10 days. Temperature above 20 °C accelerates digestion and reduces the interval between meals; cooler conditions prolong the fasting period.
Couch bedbugs do not consume plant material, nectar or other non‑blood substances. Their mouthparts are adapted exclusively for piercing skin and drawing liquid blood, rendering alternative food sources physiologically unsuitable.