Community identification
Bed Bug Fecal Spotting
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- Individual spots are typically 0.5mm to 2mm in diameter; insects are 4mm to 7mm.
Natural Habitat
Primarily indoors, concentrated in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and cracks or crevices near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly hematophagous, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of mammals (primarily humans) and birds.
Behavior Patterns
The spots in the image are digested blood excreted by the insects. Bed bugs are nocturnal, elusive, and aggregate in dark, sheltered spaces during the day.
Risks & Benefits
Potentially causes itchy welts and allergic reactions in humans; can cause significant psychological distress and sleep deprivation. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans.