What Bed Bugs Eat
Bedbugs don’t eat human hair or other clothing. Their digestive system is not designed to feed on these materials. They are also not able to chew through wood or paper. However, the presence of pets in your home can attract them. Therefore, you should take appropriate steps to avoid attracting these bugs to your home.
A bedbug’s natural predators include other bugs and mammals, so it can be difficult for them to feed if they are in the presence of life-threatening animals. The only purpose of these insects is to feed and reproduce. Since their diet consists solely of blood, they feed on the blood of larger animals. The process of blood absorption is almost invisible, but it can be painful at times.
Adult bedbugs are approximately the size of an apple seed and reddish brown. They can appear flat or as little balloons when waiting for a meal. They also produce blood stains from crushing their prey. Juvenile bedbugs can produce yellow flakes that look like blood. The eggs of these creatures are the size of uncooked white rice and are found in clusters.
Bedbugs feed regularly. Their feeding frequency increases during warmer months, which aids in digestion and growth. In warm weather, bedbugs may feed every two to three days. In colder seasons, they feed less frequently.