What do domestic bedbugs react to? - briefly
Domestic bed bugs are attracted to warm temperatures, exhaled carbon dioxide, and human skin odors, and they also respond to vibrations and movement. They are repelled by cold, desiccation, and certain chemical deterrents such as pyrethroids and essential‑oil extracts.
What do domestic bedbugs react to? - in detail
Domestic bedbugs detect and respond to several environmental cues that guide their host‑seeking, feeding, and aggregation behaviors. Their sensory apparatus includes antennae equipped with chemoreceptors, tarsal sensilla that perceive temperature and humidity, and mechanoreceptors that register vibrations and tactile stimuli.
Chemical signals dominate attraction. Exhaled carbon dioxide, emitted at concentrations as low as 400 ppm, triggers activation of olfactory receptors and initiates host‑seeking. Warmth from a human body, typically 30–34 °C, synergizes with CO₂, increasing movement toward the source. Skin volatiles—fatty acids, lactic acid, ammonia, and specific aldehydes—are detected by antennal receptors and further refine host discrimination. Aggregation pheromones, primarily (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-2-octenal, promote clustering in sheltered sites after feeding.
Physical cues also influence behavior. Darkness enhances activity; bedbugs remain largely inactive in bright light, showing a photonegative response. Relative humidity above 70 % supports survival and promotes movement toward moist microhabitats. Substrate vibrations, such as those generated by a sleeping host, can stimulate probing and feeding attempts.
Responses to control agents are mediated by similar sensory pathways. Contact with pyrethroid residues elicits rapid knock‑down via nervous‑system disruption, while exposure to silica‑based desiccants leads to water loss detected by hygrosensory organs, causing mortality. Traps that emit CO₂, heat, or synthetic skin odorants exploit the same attraction mechanisms, drawing insects into adhesive surfaces or containment chambers.
In summary, domestic bedbugs react to a combination of gaseous, thermal, chemical, visual, and tactile stimuli, each processed by specialized receptors that drive host location, feeding initiation, aggregation, and avoidance of unfavorable conditions. Understanding these sensory triggers enables more effective monitoring and management strategies.