Why don't bed bugs bite elderly people? - briefly
Bed bugs are drawn to higher body heat, carbon‑dioxide output, and strong skin odors, which tend to diminish with age, making older adults less attractive to the insects. Consequently, infestations are rarer among seniors because their physiological cues provide a weaker feeding signal.
Why don't bed bugs bite elderly people? - in detail
Bed bugs locate hosts primarily through carbon‑dioxide emission, body heat, and skin‑derived chemicals such as lactic acid and ammonia. Older adults often exhibit reduced metabolic rates, resulting in lower CO₂ output and cooler skin temperatures. These physiological changes diminish the primary cues that trigger bed‑bug attraction, making older individuals less likely to be selected as targets.
Skin alterations that accompany aging also play a role. The epidermis thickens and dermal blood vessels become less superficial, decreasing the ease with which a bug can pierce the skin and access blood. Additionally, diminished peripheral circulation lowers the volume of blood available at the bite site, reducing the nutritional reward for the insect.
Changes in the microbiome of aged skin affect the composition of volatile organic compounds released. Studies show that the quantity of lactic acid and other attractants declines with age, further weakening the olfactory signals that guide bed bugs toward a host.
Behavioral factors contribute as well. Older individuals tend to move less during sleep, providing fewer mechanical stimuli that alert a bed bug to a potential feeding opportunity. Reduced activity also means fewer disturbances that could expose the insect to the host’s skin.
A summary of the key mechanisms:
- Lower carbon‑dioxide production and cooler skin temperature reduce attraction.
- Thickened epidermis and deeper capillaries impede feeding.
- Decreased peripheral blood flow limits blood availability.
- Altered skin chemistry diminishes volatile attractants.
- Reduced nocturnal movement lowers host detection.
Collectively, these physiological and behavioral characteristics explain why older adults experience fewer bed‑bug bites compared with younger, more metabolically active individuals.