Can Bed Bugs Change Gender?
WouterA male bed bug pierces the abdomen of a female bed bug and injects sperm through the wound. These sperm diffuse through the female’s hemolymph and reach her ovaries. Eventually, the two bed bugs mate and form a new species. A female bed bug will not become pregnant until it produces eggs.
The female bed bug has a special holding chamber where the sperm matures and is ready to fertilize an egg. The female bed bug has a translucent and non-sclerotized membrane in the ventral region. This ventral area will expand when the female lays eggs and feeds. If you have a bedbug infestation, it is important to take photos of the infested area. The photos should be as clear as possible. If you cannot obtain photos of the insects, text a picture or send an email.
Bed bugs’ RIA system is thought to have no direct parallel in other insect mating systems. This type of mating is associated with the onset of a mating-induced immune response in the female. Female bed bugs also up-regulate the activity of their copulatory organs to anticipate mating.
While it is possible that bed bugs change their gender, it is not known how they make the change. Biological studies have indicated that they mate in different environments, but it is not completely clear if the changes are permanent or just temporary. If the sex of the female bed bug does change, it is likely because they have a new host.
