Bed bugs are small, nocturnal insects that parasitize humans and other warm-blooded animals, feeding exclusively on blood. These flat, reddish-brown pests are found globally and can become a significant nuisance in homes, apartments, and various public accommodations.
Bed Bugs’ Preferred Feeding Time
Bed bugs are primarily nocturnal. They prefer to feed when their host is asleep and relatively still, typically between midnight and 5 AM.
While they exhibit a strong preference for feeding at night, bed bugs can and will feed during the day if conditions necessitate it. This can occur in situations of severe infestation or if a host is immobile during daylight hours.
How Often Bed Bugs Feed
The frequency of bed bug feeding varies, but they typically feed every 5 to 10 days. This feeding schedule is influenced by their life cycle and reproductive needs. Each blood meal is necessary for bed bugs to progress through their developmental stages, known as molting, and for adult females to produce eggs.
Bed bugs do not require daily feeding and can survive for extended periods without a blood meal. Adult bed bugs can live for several months without feeding, with some surviving 3 to 5 months in typical room conditions, and even longer in cooler environments, potentially up to a year. Nymphs also require blood meals to grow and molt, needing to feed at least five times before reaching adulthood.
What Stimulates Bed Bug Feeding
Bed bugs possess sensory mechanisms that guide them toward a host for a blood meal. They are primarily attracted by carbon dioxide (CO2) exhaled during human respiration, which acts as a long-range cue.
Body heat is another significant attractant, serving as a short-range cue that helps bed bugs pinpoint their feeding site. Additionally, certain chemical signatures and odors from the host, such as those found in human sweat and body odor, draw these pests closer. These combined cues enable bed bugs to effectively find a blood source, even in the dark.
Identifying Signs of Bed Bug Feeding
One of the direct indicators of recent bed bug feeding activity is the presence of small bloodstains on bedding, mattresses, or pajamas. These rust-colored or reddish spots can result from crushed bed bugs after feeding or from small amounts of blood expelled during or after the feeding process. The stains may also be dark brown or black, resembling ink blots, which are fecal spots consisting of digested blood.
Bed bug bites typically appear as red, itchy welts on the skin. They are often arranged in a linear pattern or in clusters, sometimes described as a “breakfast, lunch, and dinner” pattern. While this pattern is common, individual reactions to bed bug bites can vary significantly, with some people experiencing no reaction at all, and others developing more pronounced welts or allergic responses. The bites commonly occur on exposed skin areas during sleep, such as the face, neck, arms, and hands.