Who do bedbugs bite and who do they not? - briefly
Bed bugs feed on the blood of humans and other warm‑blooded mammals, such as dogs, cats, and rodents; they are attracted to body heat and carbon‑dioxide. They do not bite birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, or insects.
Who do bedbugs bite and who do they not? - in detail
Bedbugs are obligate hematophages that require a blood meal to develop and reproduce. Their feeding behavior is dictated by host availability, physiological cues, and thermal signals.
Human beings constitute the primary source of nourishment. All ages, sexes, and ethnicities are susceptible; there is no evidence of a universal immunity based on skin color or gender. Studies show that individuals with higher body temperature, elevated carbon‑dioxide output, and certain skin microbiota are more frequently selected, but the species will bite any person in proximity.
Mammalian and avian hosts are also acceptable. Documented secondary hosts include:
- Dogs and cats – occasional bites reported in infested homes where pets share sleeping areas.
- Rodents (rats, mice) – common in densely populated dwellings; may serve as temporary food sources.
- Birds – especially domestic poultry kept in close quarters with humans.
These animals are bitten less consistently than humans because they emit lower levels of carbon‑dioxide and present different skin chemistry, which renders them less attractive.
Reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates are effectively excluded from the diet. Their ectothermic nature produces insufficient heat and carbon‑dioxide, and their blood composition lacks the protein profile that bedbugs recognize as suitable.
Factors that reduce the likelihood of a bite include:
- Low surface temperature (e.g., sleeping on a cold surface).
- Minimal carbon‑dioxide exhalation (e.g., very shallow breathing).
- Protective barriers such as thick clothing or sealed bedding.
- Host immune response that produces rapid skin irritation, prompting the insect to retreat.
In summary, bedbugs will feed on any warm‑blooded vertebrate that emits the chemical and thermal cues they are tuned to detect, with humans being the most common and reliable source. Species that do not generate sufficient heat, carbon‑dioxide, or appropriate blood chemistry are generally avoided.