What do large bedbugs feed on? - briefly
Large bedbugs obtain nourishment by piercing the skin of humans or other warm‑blooded hosts and sucking their blood. They feed mainly at night, engorging for a few minutes before retreating to hidden crevices.
What do large bedbugs feed on? - in detail
Large bed‑bug specimens require a blood meal to complete each developmental stage. Their mouthparts pierce the skin of a warm‑blooded host, inject anticoagulant saliva, and draw up plasma and red blood cells. The volume of ingested blood correlates with body size; a 5‑mm adult can ingest up to 0.02 ml, while a 7‑mm individual may take as much as 0.03 ml per feeding.
Primary hosts include:
- Humans, the most common source in residential settings.
- Domestic birds, especially chickens kept in proximity to sleeping areas.
- Rodents such as mice and rats, which serve as reservoirs in infested structures.
- Occasionally, other mammals (cats, dogs) when they share the same sleeping environment.
Feeding occurs primarily at night, when host body temperature is stable and movement is minimal. Bed bugs locate a host by detecting carbon dioxide, heat, and kairomones. After a successful bite, the insect remains attached for 3–10 minutes, during which it contracts its abdomen to draw blood. The meal is stored in a distensible midgut, allowing the insect to survive several weeks without another feed.
Digestive processes involve:
- Enzymatic breakdown of hemoglobin and plasma proteins.
- Conversion of ingested nutrients into lipids and glycogen for energy storage.
- Excretion of excess fluid through the hindgut, often resulting in the characteristic dark spotting on bedding.
Reproductive output depends on the quality and quantity of the blood meal. Females that obtain larger, protein‑rich feeds produce more eggs, typically 2–5 per gonotrophic cycle, with each cycle lasting 5–7 days under optimal temperature (25–28 °C) and humidity (70–80 % RH).
In summary, sizable bed‑bug individuals subsist exclusively on vertebrate blood, favoring humans but capable of exploiting birds, rodents, and other mammals. Their feeding mechanics, host‑seeking behavior, and digestive physiology enable survival and reproduction in indoor environments.