Who do bedbugs bite and why? - briefly
Bedbugs primarily feed on human blood, but they will also bite warm‑blooded animals such as birds, rodents, and domestic pets when available. They bite to acquire the protein and iron needed for development and egg production, using body heat, carbon dioxide, and movement as cues to locate hosts.
Who do bedbugs bite and why? - in detail
Bedbugs are obligate hematophages; they require a blood meal to complete each developmental stage and to produce eggs. Their primary hosts are humans, but they will also feed on other warm‑blooded vertebrates such as birds, rodents, and domestic pets when those animals are present in the same environment.
The insects locate a host by detecting several cues:
- Carbon dioxide: exhaled breath creates a gradient that guides the bug toward a potential source.
- Body heat: infrared radiation from skin surfaces signals a living host.
- Skin odor: compounds like lactic acid, ammonia, and fatty acids attract the insect.
- Movement: subtle vibrations can trigger a feeding response.
Once on the skin, a bedbug inserts its proboscis and injects saliva containing anticoagulants and anesthetic agents. The saliva prevents clotting and delays pain perception, allowing the bug to feed for 5–10 minutes. The bite itself is painless at the moment of feeding; the subsequent inflammatory reaction produces the characteristic red, itchy welts.
Bedbugs do not discriminate based on age, gender, race, or health status. All individuals emit the same basic cues that the insect exploits. However, factors that increase exposure—such as sleeping on infested mattresses, sharing a bed, or living in densely populated housing—raise the likelihood of being bitten.
When alternative hosts are abundant, bedbugs may opportunistically feed on them. For example, in a home with a dog or cat, the insects can bite the animal’s exposed skin, especially if the pet sleeps on the same furniture as the human occupants. Nonetheless, human blood remains the most suitable source for reproduction, and infestations are typically identified by the pattern of bites on people.
In summary, bedbugs bite any warm‑blooded creature that provides the chemical and thermal signals they require, with humans being the most common target due to frequent close contact and convenient feeding sites. Their feeding behavior is driven by the need for nutrients to develop and reproduce, and the bite’s delayed reaction results from the insect’s saliva composition.