What does the Italian bedbug feed on? - briefly
The Italian bedbug (Cimex hemipterus) feeds exclusively on human blood, typically biting at night. It can also opportunistically ingest blood from other warm‑blooded mammals.
What does the Italian bedbug feed on? - in detail
The Italian bedbug, Cimex lectularius populations found in Italy exhibit the same obligate hematophagous diet as their conspecifics worldwide. Adult insects and nymphs require vertebrate blood to complete development and reproduction. Primary hosts are humans; nightly bites provide the necessary protein and lipids for egg production and molting. In the absence of human occupants, the bug will opportunistically feed on other warm‑blooded mammals such as dogs, cats, and rodents, although blood meals from these secondary hosts support slower growth and reduced fecundity.
Feeding occurs after a prolonged period of fasting, typically ranging from several days to weeks, depending on ambient temperature and host availability. The bug detects a host through a combination of carbon dioxide, heat, and kairomones emitted by skin. Once attached, it inserts a beak‑like stylet to pierce the epidermis, injects anticoagulant saliva, and withdraws approximately 0.2–0.3 µL of blood per meal. The ingested blood is stored in a distended abdomen, which can increase up to four times its original size.
Key points of the feeding cycle:
- Host detection: CO₂ gradient, body heat, and skin odor.
- Attachment duration: 5–10 minutes per feeding event.
- Blood volume: 0.2–0.3 µL per ingestion; multiple meals may be taken before molting.
- Digestive processing: Blood proteins are broken down into amino acids for tissue synthesis; excess lipids are stored for future oviposition.
- Reproductive impact: Each fully engorged female can lay 200–500 eggs over her lifespan, contingent on the quality and frequency of blood meals.
Environmental factors such as temperature (optimal 22–28 °C) and humidity (45–80 % RH) influence feeding frequency. Warmer conditions accelerate metabolism, reducing the interval between meals, while low humidity can impair the bug’s ability to locate hosts and maintain hydration.
In summary, the Italian variant of this species relies exclusively on vertebrate blood, with humans serving as the preferred source. Secondary mammalian hosts are utilized when human contact is limited, but the nutritional adequacy of such meals is inferior, affecting growth rates and reproductive output.