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What Bugs Feed on Human Blood? Blood Eating Bugs

June 15, 2022

Insects that feed on human blood can cause incredible discomfort. In many cases, we don't even know we've been bitten until after they have had their meal. Some inject an anticoagulant into the bloodstream to suck up their meal faster, while others clamp on and indulge in our life-preserving liquid. It helps to know which of these creatures to be watchful of before they attack. That way, we can take active steps to avoid the misery before they get a chance to start.

Mosquitos

Mosquitos are probably the most familiar of all the blood-sucking insects we must contend with. However, only the females are biters, and your blood provides the proteins they need to produce eggs. That itchy feeling you get after a bite is from the saliva she releases to prevent your blood from clotting while she feasts. Unfortunately, the same saliva exposes you to many diseases like Zika, malaria, and West Nile Virus.

Lice

Many different types of lice want access to your blood, but the body, head, and crab lice are the ones that cause the most problems for humans. You can identify the body and head lice because of their elongated shape, but crab lice will look more like a crab. 


These bugs can be quickly passed from one person to the next by sharing infested products. Head and crab lice prefer to lay their eggs in human hair and will be found on combs and brushes used on heads that have been infested. There is no doubt that they can be a real nuisance. Still, only the body lice carry infectious diseases like typhus or bacterial infections.

Bedbugs

Bedbugs have an uncanny way of hiding themselves in dark places in your home. They are called bedbugs because they usually prefer to hide in the seams of your mattress and wait until you go to bed at night before they come out to eat. They have been known to survive for months without a meal, but they will indulge in their new feast once a warm body is supplied. Their bites leave red, itchy sores behind, which can be highly uncomfortable. It isn't easy to get rid of bedbugs, and you may find that you will need to completely dispose of anything they have infested before you can be sure they are truly gone.

Ticks

There are also parasitic insects that will enjoy feasting on your blood. The tick can be a very serious pest to you and any pets you may have. Commonly known to transmit Lyme disease and other similar illnesses, these bugs literally burrow their heads underneath your skin, latch on, and gorge themselves. If left undisturbed, they can consume as much as 200 times their body weight before they fall off to lay their eggs.


Needless to say, if your home is being invaded by any one of these pests, it's time to call on a
professional to help you get rid of them. They are, at the very least, an unpleasant annoyance. Still, they can also be carriers of many diseases that could put your life and family in danger.

15 Jun, 2022
Insects that feed on human blood can cause incredible discomfort. In many cases, we don't even know we've been bitten until after they have had their meal. Some inject an anticoagulant into the bloodstream to suck up their meal faster, while others clamp on and indulge in our life-preserving liquid. It helps to know which of these creatures to be watchful of before they attack. That way, we can take active steps to avoid the misery before they get a chance to start.
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