What happens to a bedbug after a bite?

What happens to a bedbug after a bite? - briefly

After feeding, the bug injects saliva with anticoagulants, detaches, and expands while digesting the blood, remaining concealed for several days before seeking another host. The bite does not kill the insect; it continues its life cycle, eventually molting and reproducing.

What happens to a bedbug after a bite? - in detail

A bed bug pierces the skin with a slender proboscis, injecting saliva that contains anticoagulant proteins and a mild anesthetic. The anesthetic masks the puncture, so the host often feels no pain at the moment of feeding. After the blood pool forms, the insect draws up to 5 mg of blood, expanding its abdomen to several times its unfed size.

The injected saliva triggers a localized immune response in the host. Within minutes to hours, the bite site becomes reddened, swollen, and itchy. Histamine release from mast cells accounts for the characteristic pruritus and occasional wheal formation.

Once the meal ends, the bug retreats to a concealed harbor. The ingested blood is stored in the midgut, where proteolytic enzymes break down hemoglobin and plasma proteins. Digestion proceeds over 24–48 hours, converting the meal into amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates that fuel metabolism and tissue growth. Excess fluid is eliminated as dark, fecal specks that often appear as tiny spots near the harbor.

During the post‑feeding resting period, the insect’s cuticle softens, allowing the abdomen to accommodate the expanding gut. The bug remains inactive for three to five days under optimal temperature and humidity; at lower temperatures, the interval may extend to two weeks. After this quiescent phase, the bug seeks another host to repeat the cycle.

In females, a single blood meal can trigger oviposition. Within five to ten days, a fed female deposits 1–5 mm eggs in protected crevices. The number of eggs laid correlates with the volume of blood consumed; larger meals support higher fecundity. Subsequent molts occur after several feedings, each molt increasing the insect’s size and reproductive capacity.