Where do bedbugs live and what do they feed on? - briefly
Bedbugs inhabit cracks and crevices near sleeping areas—mattress seams, box‑spring frames, headboards, and furniture upholstery. They survive by piercing human skin and ingesting blood during nocturnal feedings.
Where do bedbugs live and what do they feed on? - in detail
Bedbugs are small, nocturnal hematophagous insects that inhabit environments where humans or other warm‑blooded hosts rest. Their preferred locations include:
- seams, folds, and tufts of mattresses and box springs
- headboards, footboards, and bed frames, especially where wood or fabric creates tight crevices
- upholstered furniture such as couches, recliners, and armchairs, concentrating on cushions and stitching
- wall voids, baseboard gaps, and electrical outlet covers that provide protected cracks
- luggage, backpacks, and personal items that are placed on or near sleeping areas
- public lodging facilities, shelters, and transport vehicles where turnover of occupants is high
These sites offer darkness, limited disturbance, and proximity to a blood source, allowing the insects to hide during daylight and emerge at night to feed.
Feeding behavior is highly specialized. Bedbugs pierce the skin with a beak‑like proboscis and inject an anticoagulant and anesthetic, enabling them to draw blood without alerting the host. Their diet consists almost exclusively of the blood of humans; however, they will also bite other mammals and birds when available. Feeding typically occurs after the host has been at rest for 5–10 minutes, lasting 3–10 minutes per bout. Females require a blood meal to develop eggs, while both sexes need regular meals for growth and survival. Intervals between feedings range from several days for newly emerged nymphs to weeks for mature adults during periods of scarcity.
Understanding these habitat preferences and feeding requirements is essential for effective detection, control, and prevention strategies.