Where do bedbugs come from and what do they feed on? - briefly
Bedbugs originate from tropical environments and have spread globally through human travel, luggage, and second‑hand furniture. They subsist solely on the blood of humans and other warm‑blooded hosts, feeding primarily during nighttime.
Where do bedbugs come from and what do they feed on? - in detail
Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, obligate blood‑feeding insects that have expanded from a tropical African origin to a worldwide distribution. Their spread is linked to human movement; they travel in personal luggage, clothing, used mattresses, and upholstered furniture. Public transportation, hotels, and refugee shelters provide additional pathways for relocation. International trade in second‑hand goods and the global tourism industry accelerate colonization of new environments.
Feeding occurs exclusively on warm‑blooded hosts. Humans constitute the primary source, but birds, rodents, and other mammals can also supply blood meals. Bedbugs locate hosts by detecting carbon dioxide, body heat, and kairomones. Feeding takes place at night, lasting five to ten minutes, during which the insect injects saliva containing anticoagulants and anesthetics. After ingesting blood, the insect digests the meal over several days, using the nutrients to develop, moult, and reproduce.
Key aspects of their biology related to nourishment include:
- Each adult requires a blood meal to produce eggs; a single female can lay 200–500 eggs over her lifetime.
- Nymphal stages must feed before each moult; the interval between meals lengthens as temperatures drop.
- Blood ingestion triggers a rise in body weight of up to 200 % within minutes, after which the insect retreats to a hiding place to digest.
Understanding the mechanisms of dispersal and the exclusive hematophagous diet is essential for effective control measures. Prevention focuses on eliminating transport vectors, inspecting second‑hand items, and maintaining rigorous sanitation in high‑risk settings.