Why don't bed bugs bite adults? - briefly
Bed bugs feed on adults as they do on any warm‑blooded host; adult skin typically generates weaker reactions, so bites often remain unnoticed. Their feeding pattern depends on blood availability, not the host’s age.
Why don't bed bugs bite adults? - in detail
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) feed on all warm‑blooded hosts, but reports of adults being spared are usually misinterpretations of feeding patterns. Several physiological and behavioral factors explain the apparent lower bite incidence in mature humans.
-
Skin chemistry: Adult skin typically produces higher levels of certain fatty acids and cholesterol derivatives that are less attractive to the insects’ chemoreceptors. Children and infants emit more lactic acid and ammonia, compounds known to trigger the bugs’ probing response.
-
Body temperature: Younger individuals often have slightly higher surface temperatures, creating a stronger thermal gradient that guides the insects toward them.
-
Carbon‑dioxide output: Metabolic rates in children generate more carbon‑dioxide per unit body mass, providing a stronger olfactory cue for host location.
-
Immune response: Adults develop stronger cutaneous immune defenses. Histamine release and inflammatory mediators can reduce the duration of feeding, making bites less noticeable and less likely to be reported.
-
Behavioral exposure: Adults spend more time away from sleeping environments, decreasing contact time with infested areas. Bed bugs are nocturnal and rely on hosts being immobile for extended periods.
-
Feeding frequency: A single bed bug can survive weeks without a blood meal. When an infestation is low, the insects may prioritize easily located, highly attractive hosts, leaving less appealing ones unattended.
The combination of these variables leads to a reduced detection of bites among mature humans, not an absolute inability of the insects to feed on them. Proper control measures remain necessary regardless of host age.