Bed bugs are small, oval, brownish insects that feed solely on the blood of animals. They are a nuisance pest that can lead to discomfort, sleeplessness, and anxiety in humans. Bed bugs like to feed on areas of the body that have a lot of blood vessels close to the surface of the skin, allowing them easy access for feeding. But what part of the human body do bed bugs seem to prefer over others? Let’s take a closer look at bed bug feeding habits and behavior to find out.
Head and Neck
The head and neck regions contain many blood vessels near the surface, making them prime targets for bed bugs looking for their next meal. The scalp in particular offers an ideal feeding ground, as hair follicles give bed bugs easy access to blood capillaries. Facial areas around the eyes, nose, ears, mouth and cheeks are also common feeding sites. Bed bugs are often found hiding out in the nooks and crannies of mattresses and bed frames during the day, allowing them quick access to feast on the face, head and neck of people while they sleep. The bugs’ saliva contains anesthetic properties that numb the skin, allowing them to bite without being detected. While bed bug bites can occur anywhere on the body, the head and neck are among the most frequent sites.
Arms and Shoulders
The arms and shoulders are also prime targets for bed bugs due to the abundant blood vessels that exist close to the surface of the skin. The inner and upper arms in particular tend to be common bed bug feeding areas, as well as the shoulders. Some reasons why these sites are favored include:
- The skin is thinner on the arms, making it easy for bed bugs to access blood capillaries.
- There are less hair follicles on the arms and shoulders compared to other parts of the body, allowing easier feeding access.
- The arms are often exposed during sleep even if pajamas or shirts are worn.
- The arms tend to have more skin surface area compared to other appendages, providing more options for feeding.
In addition, some research indicates that bed bugs may be attracted to the warmth and carbon dioxide emitted from the armpits and shoulders. When sleeping, these areas give off signals that attract the bugs looking for their next victim.
Hands and Fingers
The hands and fingers also contain superficial blood vessels that bed bugs can easily tap into, enticing them to frequently bite on the hands, knuckles, and fingertips. Some specific reasons why bed bugs target the hands include:
- The skin on the hands and fingers is some of the thinnest on the human body.
- The fingers often rest close to or touching the face, allowing bed bugs easy transfer from the bed to facial areas to feed.
- The hands are usually uncovered during sleep, giving bed bugs open access even if pajamas are worn.
- The fingers emit warmth and CO2 similar to the shoulders and arms.
Bed bugs will take advantage of any exposed skin, so the hands and fingers are ideal targets at night when sleeping. The bugs can quickly crawl from their hiding places onto exposed hands to feed.
Legs and Feet
The feet and lower legs also offer effortless access to surface blood vessels and thin skin for bed bugs to feed on. Feet, ankles, and calves are common targets, especially if sleeping without socks on. Some reasons why these areas are susceptible to bed bug bites include:
- Lower legs have less hair than other areas, allowing for easier access.
- Legs are often uncovered during sleep, even when pajama pants or shorts are worn.
- Feet emit warmth and CO2 that attract the bugs.
- The protruding nature of feet makes them easily accessible from bed bug harborages.
Bed bugs tend to shelter themselves near and around the lower mattress seams during idle times. This puts feet and legs in prime location for easy biting access at night.
Back and Stomach
The back and stomach are also targeted feeding spots for bed bugs at night. When sleeping on one’s back or stomach, these areas often go uncovered and provide access to abundant blood vessels. Some reasons these sites attract bed bugs include:
- The midsection has a thin epidermis layer and is highly vascularized.
- The stomach and back emit strong heat and CO2 signals to guide bed bugs.
- When sleeping face down or up, the torso is often entirely exposed.
- The midsection has a large surface area for feeding.
Bed bugs seem to favor the lower back in particular, possibly due to ease of access when sleeping on mattresses. The stomach is also a big target when front sleeping.
Other Areas
While the above regions are the most common, bed bugs will opportunistically feed anywhere they can access blood vessels. Other areas that may be affected include:
- Buttocks
- Genital area
- Chest and breasts
- Underarms
- Behind the knees
- Tops of feet
Bed bugs are not thought to have an actual preference when it comes to feeding sites. They will simply bite anywhere that has accessible blood vessels. However, the areas covered here tend to be most convenient and vulnerable when sleeping.
Feeding Frequency
Bed bugs generally need to feed about once every 5-10 days. However, they can survive many months without feeding at all. Young nymphs tend to feed more frequently and require larger amounts of blood for growth and molting. Adults can go longer between feedings.
Females also engorge themselves when they are ready to lay eggs. A fully fed bed bug gets elongated and swollen with blood, turning a dark red color. After feeding for about 3-10 minutes, the bugs quickly retreat back to their hiding places nearby.
During an infestation, the bugs may bite nightly, leaving behind clustered groups of welts. However, solitary bites could simply be a bed bug that crawled from an adjacent room in search of food. Bites often appear in zig-zag lines or triangular patterns corresponding to how the bugs move between feedings.
Bite Symptoms
Bed bug bites share common symptoms though there can be variation among different people. Typical bite reactions include:
- Red, raised welts, bumps or hives
- Itching and skin irritation
- Burning or pain at the site
- Small red dots from puncture wounds
- Swelling around the bite
Bites may appear minutes after feeding or could take a few days to become noticeable. Scratching the areas can lead to infection. Some people have no reaction at all initially and then develop issues days later.
Allergic reactions can also occur and lead to more severe swelling, soreness and skin blisters or rashes. It’s advisable to avoid scratching bites and apply anti-itch creams, oral antihistamines, or hydrocortisone if needed. See a doctor if severe symptoms develop.
Detection and Prevention
Carefully inspecting mattresses, bed frames, furniture cracks and crevices can help detect bed bug infestations early. Look for live or dead bed bugs, tiny blackish fecal stains, and light brown shed skins. It is also possible to develop early detection traps that lure bed bugs in using warmth, CO2, and chemical attractants. This allows for monitoring and capturing bugs before they multiply.
Prevention is centered around strict sanitation and monitoring. This includes:
- Vacuuming and disposing of bags right away
- Sealing cracks and crevices
- Treating mattresses with encasements
- Using interceptor traps under furniture legs
- Examining secondhand furniture carefully
- Inspecting after traveling
Catching infestations quickly is key to getting control before the bugs spread. This helps limit bites and allows for targeted treatment of affected areas only.
Conclusion
Bed bugs are equal opportunity biters and feed on any exposed areas of skin that they can access. The regions of the body most frequently bitten include the head and neck, arms, hands, shoulders, legs and feet. The back and stomach are also common targets. Their small size allows them to hide near sleeping areas and feed quickly at night before retreating. While bed bugs do not spread disease, they can cause significant irritation and discomfort. Being able to identify and stop infestations early provides the best defense against these parasitic pests.