Bed Bug Sex

Bed Bug Sex

Posted: April 11, 2013

For many of us, bed bugs basically define the word gross. After all, what could be more repulsive than an animal that sucks your blood while you sleep? Well, let me tell you a story that is sure to exceed even your worst nightmares. It’s the story of bed bug sex.

You see, male bed bugs have saber-like penises. When a male is ready to mate, he mounts any other bed bug that has just fed and is bloated with blood. If he finds a female, he takes his penis and stabs her in the abdomen, releasing sperm directly into her circulatory system. (In fact, on rare occasions he might even stab and inseminate another male if he’s accidentally mounted one.) He wounds the female, but she does have an immune organ, called the spermalege, which protects her from infection. For the record, females actually have fully functional reproductive tracts, but they use them exclusively for egg laying.

So just think—while you’re sleeping tight, dozens of bed bugs could not only be feeding on your blood, they could also be doing this:

[HARLEM SHAKE]

Goodnight bed bugs.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Producer, Editor, Animator

Anna Rothschild

Production Assistant

Allison Eck

Original Footage

© WGBH Educational Foundation 2013

MEDIA CREDITS

(Bed Bug Penis)

© Power & Syred

(Bed Bugs Mating)

© Rickard Ignell

(Harlem Shake)

Baauer

(Brahmns Lullaby Music Box)

ClassicBeauty/AudioJungle

IMAGE

(main image: bed bug)

© WGBH Educational Foundation 2013