Who do bedbugs not bite? - briefly
Bedbugs primarily feed on humans and other warm‑blooded mammals; they rarely bite birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish or invertebrates. Their mouthparts are adapted to pierce mammalian skin, making non‑mammalian hosts unsuitable.
Who do bedbugs not bite? - in detail
Bed bugs are obligate hematophages that require warm‑blooded hosts for nutrition. Their mouthparts are adapted to pierce skin and locate capillaries, which limits the range of viable victims.
- Reptiles and amphibians – cold‑blooded physiology does not provide the sustained blood flow and body temperature needed for successful feeding. Bed bugs rarely, if ever, attach to snakes, lizards, turtles, or frogs.
- Fish – aquatic environments and lack of accessible skin surface prevent bed bugs from obtaining a blood meal. No documented cases exist of bed bugs feeding on fish.
- Birds – feather coverage and higher body temperature create a hostile environment for the insect’s probing behavior. While occasional incidental contact may occur, sustained feeding on avian hosts is extremely uncommon.
- Invertebrates – insects, arachnids, and other arthropods lack the circulatory system compatible with the bed bug’s feeding mechanism, making them unsuitable targets.
Among humans, certain physiological factors reduce the likelihood of a bite:
- Blood type O – research indicates lower attraction compared with types A and B.
- Low body temperature – individuals with cooler skin surface emit less heat, decreasing detection cues.
- Reduced carbon‑dioxide output – slower metabolism or shallow breathing lowers the primary attractant for the insect.
- Specific skin microbiota – bacterial profiles that produce fewer volatile compounds lessen host appeal.
Consequently, bed bugs preferentially infest mammals with warm skin, ample blood flow, and strong chemical signals, while largely ignoring cold‑blooded animals, fish, birds, and humans lacking the aforementioned attractants.