Why Do Bed Bugs Need Blood?

Bedbugs are creatures that love to feed on human blood. They have a tube-shaped mouth and cannot digest other foods, so they can only feed on blood. Their specialized diet helps them survive without a host for an entire year. This is because human blood contains many of the vitamins and minerals needed by bedbugs for growth.

The best way to tell if you have bedbugs in your home is to collect a few of them and get them professionally identified. You can also look for dark spots of dried excrement or blood on your skin. You may also notice shed skins or smell rotting meat. In severe infestations, you may also notice an unpleasant, acrid smell.

Bedbugs have been known to feed on the blood of other animals, but human blood is easier for them to feed on. They will feed in areas with exposed skin, such as the hands and the back. Since they can’t penetrate clothing or paper, they will focus on these areas to feed.

During a feeding event, bedbugs can consume up to six times their body weight in blood. The entire process takes three to 10 minutes. It is not uncommon for a bedbug to bite during the day. The blood they feed on can cause an allergic dermal reaction in some people. However, some people do not have any reaction to bedbug bites and they don’t get infected.

Continue reading:

Where Do Bed Bugs Naturally Live? Does Having Bed Bugs Make You Dirty? Do Bed Bugs Give You Pimples? Does Burning Bed Bugs Kill Them? Can You Use a Clothes Steamer For Bed Bugs? What Can You Use to Kill Bed Bugs in Your Home? Can You Bring Bed Bugs to Work? Can I Take My Landlord to Court For Bed Bugs?