The peculiar dating world of a Bedbug.

When it comes to romance, bed bugs are... let's say unconventional. No elaborate mating rituals. These critters keep it simple: meet, greet, and reproduce.

• After feeding, males get frisky. The power of protein.
• Male bed bugs don’t do romance at all. Their style of courtship is called “traumatic insemination.” To put it a bluntly, the male penis is like a needle and they just stab the female and inject their love juice.
• Female Bedbugs don’t really have any or need any female private parts. They have an internal organ that filters the males sperm out of their blood and stores it up.
• A female can hold on to the sperm for up to 6 months. When she feels safe and has a good food supply, she’ll start laying eggs. Around 4 to 7 eggs every day.
• A single female can lay hundreds of eggs, which sounds excessive until you realize most baby bugs get lost in the sock drawer and never write home.

The Takeaway
Their love life may not be textbook romantic, but bed bugs get the job done—with astonishing frequency and minimal drama. They’re the speed-dating champions of the insect world, proving once again that love... finds a way. Even in the crevis under your nightstand.