Did you ever notice insects or bugs on your bed? You may have guessed these are bed bugs. These creatures thrive on blood to survive. Aside from that, do they have other food sources? How long will they survive without it?
This article will help you deeply understand these insects. It includes what attracts them, what blood type they prefer, and what you should do if you see them at home.
Summary
Bed bugs only eat blood and nothing else, preferably from humans. There are various species of them, as some are active during the day and some at night.
In order to get rid of them, the following steps should be followed :
- Find the infestation
- Contain the infestation
- Prepare the treatment
- Kill the pests
- Evaluate and prevent the future infestation
These steps can be found in detail in this article. Bed bugs can be prevented by regularly vacuuming the mattress, eliminating the clutter and sealing the cracks and crevices. Continue reading for more information.
What do bed bugs eat & feed on?
One section or two mentioned they feed on blood. Some species prefer one mammal to the other. Some require specific mammal blood to survive and lay eggs. Most species will live with any blood type.
The Cimex lectularius is the most common species associated with human beings because human blood is their primary food source. Our blood fuels their babies and provides the nutrients they need to produce healthy eggs.
The ones you will find at home are likely the Cimex lectularius. However, other species may also be living in your house. The Cimex adjunctus, or bat bugs, belong to the same family as the C. lectularius. The former feeds on bats instead of humans. Similar to the C. lectularius, they can also drink on the blood of other mammals. Still, they need bat blood to reproduce and lay eggs.
Surprisingly, these parasites do not have a mouth. They cannot technically bite their prey. They do not have teeth or tongues to chew. Instead, you will find suckers on their head. They use them to draw blood from a host. A proboscis or beak protrudes from their head and inserts into the skin of their prey. It takes 10 minutes to suck enough blood to keep them full for a few days.
Do they eat anything else?
Humans and most animals do not exclusively eat one food type. We eat a variety, such as seafood, chicken, pork, and vegetables. You may assume at first that bed bugs do not exclusively feed on blood. The truth is that they do.
These insects do not have other food sources except for blood. They do not turn into cannibals if they cannot find food. They are also unable to process dead skin or crumbs. These insects cannot even chew paper or wood. Other pests can survive with alternative food sources, but bed bugs cannot.
Our blood is full of nutrition, which explains why these pests can survive with it. It is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, which is everything they need to live. It is very nourishing that they can survive up to a year without latching on to another host. The waxy coat on their exterior keeps moisture, allowing them to survive skipping several meals.
Can they survive without blood?
The answer to this question is yes and no. These can survive without it for up to one year. However, blood is the only source of nutrition. If it is unavailable for more than a year, these pests cannot survive.
Although they can survive up to one year of no eating, they will not pass on a meal if a host is available. Adolescents have a big appetite than adults, so they will likely eat and starve more.
Their living for a long time makes it challenging to eliminate them. Moreover, these are expert crawlers and can hide in almost any location. Sometimes you will not notice them.
What’s their preferred type?
Humans have different blood types, such as O, A, B, and AB. Several people think these insects find a particular blood type more attractive. However, there is no solid scientific evidence that backs it up. If they exclusively eat blood, will they develop a preference for it or not?
Let’s assume you have a roommate with a different blood type than yours. Your roommate gets fewer bites, while you suffer from a lot of it. You might assume these insects have a preference, but they prefer feeding on what feels familiar to them.
| Differences between bed bug & flea bites | Bed Bug | Fleas |
| Size and color | Bigger and less bright | Bright red and smaller |
| Location | Torso | Lower extremeties like legs and feet |
| Time of the bite | They’re nocturnal, so biting happens at night. | They’ll bite any time of the day. |
Bed bugs that often drink blood type A will prefer drinking A blood. We can assume the ones on your roommate’s bed were unfamiliar with the blood type.
The next question is, “what does the type mean to the bed bugs?” The pheromones you emit will vary, depending on your blood type. For example, mosquitoes prefer the blood type O. It is not the same case for bed bugs because they will not like one person over the other because of blood chemistry.
The top factors in how these insects choose their victim are the warmth of your blood and carbon dioxide. Some people have warmer blood and breathe out more carbon dioxide. Why? It is simply nature. If you think these creatures find you more attractive, you may have to be more cautious.
Prevention
There are a few ways to prevent them from invading your home. After all, prevention is always better than cure.
Reduce or eliminate possible places where they can hide
- Vacuum your mattress
- Eliminate clutter
- Reapply wallpaper
- Seal crevices and cracks
Check and be cautious with what you bring inside your house
- Check all items you will bring inside your home. It includes new furniture, books, and antique items
- Triple-inspect refurbished items
- Never bring home a sofa or mattress you will find on a curb
- Insist couriers in sealing your mattress before delivery
