What does a red bedbug eat? - briefly
Red bedbugs are hematophagous insects that consume the blood of humans and other warm‑blooded hosts, usually feeding while the host sleeps. Their diet is limited to this liquid meal, which provides all necessary nutrients for development and reproduction.
What does a red bedbug eat? - in detail
The red‑colored variant of the common bed bug is a strict blood feeder. Its meals consist exclusively of the fluid of warm‑blooded vertebrates. Humans constitute the primary source in domestic settings, but the insect can also exploit other mammals such as dogs, cats, rodents, and, in tropical regions, bats or birds when available.
Feeding occurs at night when the host is at rest. The bug locates a suitable spot by detecting heat, carbon‑dioxide, and body odors. It inserts its elongated proboscis through the skin, releases saliva that contains anticoagulants and anesthetics, and draws blood for 5–10 minutes. An average adult ingests 0.2–0.5 mg of blood per session, sufficient to complete development to the next instar or to support egg production in females.
Key aspects of the blood‑feeding cycle:
- Host range: humans, domestic pets, rodents, small wildlife.
- Feeding frequency: nymphs require a blood meal after each molt; adults may feed every 3–7 days depending on temperature and host availability.
- Digestive processing: blood is stored in the midgut, enzymes break down proteins, and excess fluid is excreted as urine within hours.
- Reproductive link: a fertilized female needs a blood meal to develop a batch of 5–7 eggs; subsequent meals increase fecundity.
The insect cannot survive on plant material, carrion, or non‑blood substances. In the absence of a host, it can endure several months by reducing metabolic activity, but eventual starvation occurs without a blood source.