When do bedbugs feed? - briefly
Adult and nymphal bedbugs emerge after darkness and feed on exposed skin while the host is asleep. Feeding intervals typically span three to five days, varying with temperature and blood availability.
When do bedbugs feed? - in detail
Bedbugs are primarily nocturnal blood‑feeders. Their feeding activity peaks during the dark phase of the host’s sleep cycle, typically between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The insects use infrared, carbon‑dioxide, and body heat to locate a host, then hide in cracks or crevices until the host is immobile. Once a suitable spot is found, a bedbug inserts its proboscis, engorges for 5–10 minutes, and retreats to a harboring site to digest.
Feeding frequency varies with developmental stage:
- First‑through‑fifth instar nymphs: each molt requires a single blood meal; intervals range from 3 days (early instars) to 7 days (later instars) depending on temperature and host availability.
- Adults: generally feed every 3–5 days under optimal conditions; in cooler environments the interval can extend to 10 days or more.
Although night is the preferred period, bedbugs will take a meal during daylight if a host remains motionless for an extended period (e.g., a sleeping infant or a person seated for hours). Their circadian rhythm is flexible enough to exploit any prolonged host inactivity.
Key environmental cues that trigger feeding:
- Darkness: suppresses host movement, reducing the risk of detection.
- Temperature: optimal feeding occurs at 22–30 °C; lower temperatures delay activity.
- Carbon‑dioxide concentration: rises when a host breathes, guiding the insect to the feeding site.
After a blood meal, the insect’s gut expands, and digestive enzymes break down hemoglobin. Digestion takes 2–3 days, after which the bug seeks a new harbor until the next feeding window. This cycle of nocturnal feeding, digestion, and molting sustains population growth and explains the rapid escalation of infestations when conditions remain favorable.