Who feeds on bedbugs in nature? - briefly
Various arthropod predators, including specific ant species, spiders, predatory mites, rove beetles (Staphylinidae), and assassin bugs (Reduviidae), feed on bedbugs in the wild. These organisms help regulate Cimex populations through direct predation.
Who feeds on bedbugs in nature? - in detail
Bedbugs are primarily preyed upon by a limited group of arthropods that can locate them in cracks, crevices, or bedding.
- Ants – several species of fire ant (Solenopsis spp.) and carpenter ant (Camponotus spp.) enter infested areas, retrieve mobile nymphs and adults, and consume them.
- Spiders – common house spiders (Theridiidae) and cellar spiders (Pholcidae) capture wandering bedbugs in their webs or hunt them on surfaces.
- Rove beetles – Dalotia coriaria and other Staphylinidae species are active hunters that pry bedbugs from hiding places and feed on their bodies.
- Earwigs – Forficula auricularia and related earwig species scavenge dead or immobilized bedbugs, occasionally killing live individuals.
- Predatory mites – Blattisocius keegani and related mesostigmatid mites infiltrate bedbug refuges, puncture the cuticle, and ingest hemolymph.
Biological control agents extend beyond direct predators. Entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana infect bedbugs through spore adhesion, germination, and internal proliferation, leading to mortality. Nematodes, particularly Steinernema carpocapsae, invade the insect’s hemocoel, release symbiotic bacteria, and cause rapid death.
Laboratory studies have demonstrated that integrated use of rove beetles, predatory mites, and fungal formulations can suppress bedbug populations under controlled conditions. Field applications remain limited, as the insects’ cryptic behavior and preference for indoor environments reduce exposure to natural enemies. Nonetheless, the identified predators represent the principal biological agents that feed on bedbugs in natural settings.