In a Pest Control Conference organised by Malta’s very own Exterminator Arnold Sciberras this week, guests were treated to a live feeding of a couple of bedbugs brought in just for the occasion.

During the seminar – which was primarily targeted for members and shareholders of Malta’s hospitality industry – a number of insights in pets management were shared by the professionals… but it didn’t take long for the ongoing bedbug issue to be brought up, and actual live specimen brought out.

Orkin USA Technical Services Director Dr Ronald Harrison, who admitted he travels everywhere with a vial of bedbugs to help explain what makes these pests tick, showed off an example of a bedbug feeding – and who better to volunteer than Malta’s very own naturalist and pest control specialist?!

At one point, the bedbugs (who at first had a tough time navigating Arnold’s hairy “forest”) finally discover a favoured feeding spot, and can be seen getting darker as they took in some of his blood.

To top it all off, Sciberras – who was obviously not perturbed by the experience seeing as he’s been through way worse – actually remarked at one point that the bedbugs found in Malta sometimes get significantly larger than the ones Dr Harrison put on his hand.

Particularly sturdy critters, bedbugs are specifically drawn to human blood and feed of it, but are rarely seen doing so since this mostly happens when we were asleep. And while this video may make some viewers uncomfortable, it’s always better to understand something as much as possible before learning how best to treat it or look out for it.

Have you ever seen a bedbug feeding on human blood before? Tag someone who needs to watch this.