When do bed bugs stop biting? - briefly
They bite until they have obtained a full blood meal—typically 5–10 minutes of feeding—after which they retreat to their harbor and cease feeding until the next hunger cycle. Subsequent meals occur every 5–10 days, influenced by temperature and host availability.
When do bed bugs stop biting? - in detail
Bed bugs require a blood meal to progress through each developmental stage. After a successful feed, an individual will disengage from the host and digest the blood for several days, during which no additional bites occur. The interval between feeds varies with age, sex, temperature, and availability of a host:
- Nymphal stages (1st‑5th instar): typically feed every 3‑7 days under optimal conditions (20‑30 °C). Cooler environments extend the interval to 10‑14 days.
- Adult females: usually feed every 4‑10 days, depending on reproductive status and ambient temperature.
- Adult males: may feed less frequently, often 7‑14 days, because they do not require blood for egg production.
Bed bugs can survive extended periods without feeding. Laboratory studies show that unfed adults can endure up to 5 months at moderate temperatures (≈25 °C); survival time lengthens to 12 months or more in cooler climates (≈10 °C). During these starvation phases, the insects remain inactive and do not bite.
Biting ceases permanently when the insect dies, whether from natural aging, extreme temperatures, dehydration, or effective pest‑control measures (chemical, heat, or desiccant treatments). After a lethal exposure, any residual activity stops within hours, eliminating further feeding attempts.
In summary, a bed bug stops biting immediately after it has taken a blood meal, resumes feeding only after digestion and a subsequent hunger period, and will no longer bite once it has died or entered a prolonged, unsustainable starvation state.