What eats bedbugs? - briefly
Bedbugs are prey for several arthropods, including «predatory mites» such as Cheyletus eruditus, rove beetles (Staphylinidae), and foraging ant species. Fungal pathogens, notably Beauveria bassiana, also infect and kill them.
What eats bedbugs? - in detail
Predators of Cimex species include several arthropod groups that actively capture and consume both adult insects and their eggs.
Mite families such as Phytoseiidae and Macrochelidae have been observed feeding on bed‑bug eggs in laboratory trials. These predatory mites locate egg clusters, pierce the chorion with their chelicerae, and ingest the contents, reducing hatching success by up to 70 % under controlled conditions.
Rove beetles (family Staphylinidae), especially Dalotia coriaria, patrol infested environments, seize wandering nymphs, and dismember them with powerful mandibles. Field studies report a decline in bed‑bug populations when rove beetle densities exceed 10 individuals per square metre.
Ant species, notably the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) and the odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile), scavenge dead or weakened bed‑bugs and may attack live individuals when food is scarce. Their foraging trails can intercept bed‑bug movement, contributing to mortality rates of 15–25 % in mixed‑species colonies.
Spiders, including common house spiders (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) and cellar spiders (Pholcus phalangioides), construct webs in crevices where bed‑bugs hide. Captured insects are immobilised by silk and subsequently digested externally, providing an opportunistic predation pathway.
Certain beetle larvae, such as those of the fire‑colored beetle (Lytta vesicatoria), have been documented feeding on bed‑bug nymphs after hatching, using enzymatic secretions to break down the exoskeleton.
Fungal pathogens, while not predators in the strict sense, contribute to mortality by invading the cuticle and internal tissues, leading to rapid decomposition. Species like Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are employed in biocontrol programs to augment natural predation pressure.
Collectively, these organisms form a multifaceted predatory network that can suppress bed‑bug infestations when environmental conditions support their activity. Integration of compatible predator species into pest‑management strategies offers a sustainable alternative to chemical interventions, reducing reliance on insecticides and mitigating resistance development.
«Effective biological control hinges on maintaining habitat features that encourage predator persistence, such as moisture gradients, refuges, and alternative prey sources».