Who do bedbugs bite and who do they not bite? - briefly
Bedbugs principally feed on human blood, targeting exposed areas such as the face, arms, and legs; they can also bite other warm‑blooded mammals—dogs, cats, rodents—when humans are unavailable. They do not bite birds, reptiles, insects, or any non‑blood‑feeding organisms.
Who do bedbugs bite and who do they not bite? - in detail
Bedbugs locate a host by detecting carbon‑dioxide, heat, and skin odors. Once a suitable source is identified, they insert a proboscis and draw blood for several minutes before retreating to hide.
Human beings are the primary blood source. All age groups, sexes, and ethnicities are equally susceptible, provided skin is exposed and the individual is at rest. The insects are not selective about blood type, gender, or body mass; they respond to the physiological cues listed above.
Other vertebrates can serve as meals when humans are unavailable. Documented secondary hosts include:
- Domestic dogs and cats (occasional feeding)
- Laboratory rodents such as rats and mice
- Birds, especially those nesting near human dwellings
- Wild mammals like squirrels and raccoons
Feeding on these animals is generally less frequent than on people, and the insects tend to abandon a host if a more accessible human is present.
Certain groups are rarely, if ever, bitten:
- Reptiles, amphibians, and fish lack the combination of carbon‑dioxide output and warm‑blooded skin that triggers bedbug attraction.
- Invertebrates, including insects and arachnids, are not suitable blood sources.
- Plants provide no blood; bedbugs cannot survive on plant sap or nectar.
Environmental factors can modify host selection. High indoor temperatures (above 30 °C) accelerate metabolic activity and increase feeding frequency, while low humidity slows movement and may reduce host contact. Crowded sleeping arrangements raise the likelihood of multiple bites per night, whereas isolated sleepers may receive fewer bites.
Experimental studies have shown that bedbugs will feed on a rabbit or a chicken when presented in a controlled arena, confirming their capacity to exploit a range of warm‑blooded hosts. However, field observations consistently report humans as the dominant source of sustenance.