Are Bed Bugs Edible?
WouterYou may have wondered if bed bugs are edible. Although bed bugs are considered to be arthropods, which passively carry bacteria, people generally do not like eating them. However, some Asian countries serve many dishes that include bugs. Although the bugs themselves are not edible, they may have other effects on your health. If you have any doubts, you should contact a pest control professional.
There are at least 90 species of bedbugs, and a majority of them feed on human blood. Some species are more specialized and prefer human blood, while others are more tolerant and will eat other types of blood. While most species of bedbugs feed on human blood, others feed on the blood of mammals. Some species of bedbugs also feed on bat blood.
Bedbugs are small, flat insects with wingless bodies that are brown in color. They feed by biting victims and injecting saliva into their skin to ensure that blood flows. Bedbugs feed for three to five minutes and then withdraw to a resting place to digest their meal. After feeding, bedbugs will elongate their bodies and turn red.
There is no evidence to suggest that eating bedbugs is dangerous for humans, although eating other insects may cause allergic reactions. People with asthma and other breathing problems are especially sensitive to certain arthropod proteins.
