Who eats bed bugs and ticks? - briefly
Predators of bed bugs and ticks include spiders, certain beetles, ants, birds such as chickens and swallows, reptiles like geckos, and small mammals such as shrews.
Who eats bed bugs and ticks? - in detail
Predators of the common household ectoparasites include several arthropods, vertebrates, and microorganisms.
- Ant species such as Solenopsis and Lasius actively hunt and consume both adult insects and nymphs.
- Rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) specialize in feeding on soft-bodied arthropods, including immature stages of the pests.
- Assassin bugs (family Reduviidae) capture and inject venom into bed‑bug nymphs before ingestion.
- Predatory mites (family Phytoseiidae) attack eggs and early instars, reducing population growth.
- Spiders, particularly ground‑dwelling and web‑building varieties, capture wandering adults and larvae.
Vertebrate consumers also contribute to natural control.
- Small insectivorous birds, such as house‑sparrows and swallows, ingest ticks while foraging on vegetation.
- Reptiles, including geckos and anole lizards, prey on crawling arthropods encountered on walls and ceilings.
- Amphibians like tree frogs capture and swallow both ticks and bed‑bug nymphs during nocturnal activity.
Microbial antagonists provide additional mortality factors.
- Entomopathogenic fungi (e.g., Beauveria bassiana) infect and kill adult insects, leading to consumption by scavengers.
- Nematodes of the genus Steinernema parasitize tick larvae within soil substrates.
Accidental ingestion by humans occurs only through contaminated food or bedding, not as a dietary practice.
Collectively, these natural enemies form a multi‑trophic network that limits the abundance of bed‑bugs and ticks in domestic and outdoor environments.