Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Cimicidae
- Size
- 4-5 mm (adults)
Natural Habitat
Primarily human dwellings, especially beds, mattresses, bed frames, furniture, and cracks/crevices near sleeping areas. They are also found in hotels, apartments, dorms, and public transportation.
Diet & Feeding
Exclusively blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. They feed by piercing the skin and withdrawing blood through a proboscis.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal, hiding during the day and emerging at night to feed. They are attracted to carbon dioxide and body heat. They often live in groups and leave behind fecal spots (digested blood) and shed skins. Their life cycle includes egg, five nymphal instars, and adult.
Risks & Benefits
Potential risks include itchy red welts from bites, allergic reactions (in some individuals), and secondary skin infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known benefits.