What happens to a bedbug after it bites a person? - briefly
After feeding, the insect withdraws its proboscis, swallows the blood, and retreats to a concealed area to digest the meal, excrete waste, and continue its life cycle. It then proceeds to molt, mate, or lay eggs depending on its developmental stage.
What happens to a bedbug after it bites a person? - in detail
When a bed bug pierces the skin, it inserts a proboscis that delivers saliva containing anticoagulants and anesthetic compounds. The anesthetic prevents the host from feeling the bite at the moment, while the anticoagulant keeps blood flowing. Blood is drawn into the insect’s midgut, where it is stored in a distensible sac. Within minutes, enzymes break down proteins and hemoglobin, providing nutrients for growth and reproduction.
The feeding episode lasts 5–10 minutes. After the abdomen expands with the ingested meal, the insect retreats to a hiding place, typically a crevice near the host’s sleeping area. During the subsequent 4–6 days, the bug digests the blood, converting it into energy reserves that support egg development. A single female can lay 1–5 eggs per day, each egg receiving a portion of the nutrient pool derived from the recent meal.
Physiological changes after the blood meal include:
- Enlargement of the abdominal cavity to accommodate the blood bolus.
- Activation of digestive enzymes that hydrolyze proteins and lipids.
- Up‑regulation of vitellogenin synthesis for yolk formation.
- Increased metabolic rate to process the nutrients.
The bite itself leaves a small, erythematous puncture that may develop into a raised, itchy wheal. The reaction varies with individual sensitivity; some people experience only a faint spot, while others develop pronounced swelling and secondary irritation from scratching.
Because bed bugs do not inject pathogens, the primary health concern is the cutaneous reaction and the psychological impact of infestation. The insect’s life cycle continues: after egg laying, the nymphs hatch, undergo five molts, and each stage requires a blood meal to progress. Consequently, a single feeding event initiates a cascade of biological processes that sustain the bug’s development and reproductive output.