Community identification
Likely bed bug (crushed or blurred specimen)
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera; Cimicidae
- Size
- Adults are about 4–7 mm long; nymphs are smaller and pale. The pictured specimen appears crushed, limiting identification certainty.
Natural Habitat
Mattress seams, bed frames, upholstered furniture, cracks, and other sheltered indoor locations near sleeping hosts.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds primarily on blood, usually at night; humans are the main host, though other warm-blooded animals may be bitten.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and wingless, hiding by day and emerging to feed. Females lay eggs in concealed cracks, and infestations spread through luggage, clothing, furniture, and wall voids.
Risks & Benefits
Bites cause itchy welts and can provoke allergic reactions, but bed bugs are not established vectors of disease. They provide no meaningful household benefit.