What do smelly bedbugs feed on? - briefly
They consume the blood of humans and other warm‑blooded hosts, piercing the skin with specialized mouthparts.
What do smelly bedbugs feed on? - in detail
The odor‑producing species of Cimex requires a blood meal for every developmental stage. Adult insects, as well as each of the five nymphal instars, obtain nourishment exclusively from the fluid of warm‑blooded vertebrates. Humans constitute the primary host in domestic settings, but birds, rodents, and other mammals are also accepted when they are accessible.
Feeding occurs at night when the insect detects heat, carbon dioxide, and skin odors. The proboscis penetrates the epidermis, releases an anticoagulant cocktail, and draws blood for 5–10 minutes. A single meal provides roughly 0.2–0.5 ml of plasma, sufficient to complete one molt or to sustain an adult for several days. After ingesting, the bug retreats to a harbor, digests the blood, and stores the protein‑rich content for egg production.
Key aspects of the feeding cycle:
- Host detection: thermal cues, CO₂ plume, and kairomones guide the insect to a sleeping host.
- Attachment: the stylet penetrates the skin, forming a sealed feeding channel.
- Saliva injection: anticoagulants, vasodilators, and anesthetic compounds prevent clotting and reduce host awareness.
- Blood intake: continuous suction draws plasma while cellular components remain at the wound site.
- Detachment: after the meal, the bug seals the wound with a plug of dried saliva, minimizing host reaction.
The species does not consume plant material, detritus, or synthetic substances. Its survival depends entirely on regular blood meals; prolonged starvation leads to mortality within weeks. Egg production is directly linked to the volume of blood ingested, with a single female capable of laying 200–500 eggs after a full meal.
In summary, the scented bedbug’s diet consists solely of vertebrate blood, obtained through a specialized nocturnal feeding mechanism that supports growth, reproduction, and population persistence.