Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size
4 to 5 millimeters (adults)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in residential dwellings, particularly in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas, mattresses, and furniture.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood-feeders, primarily consuming human blood but also feeding on other warm-blooded animals.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal insects that emerge at night to feed. They undergo a simple metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive for months without a blood meal.

Risks & Benefits

A major public health pest causing itchy bites, allergic reactions, and psychological distress; they do not transmit diseases but cause significant economic impact and ecosystem disruption in human environments.