Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera (Order); Cimicidae (Family)
- Size
- Adults are typically 4-5 mm (0.16-0.20 inches) long, similar to an apple seed. Nymphs (young bed bugs) are smaller (1-4 mm) and translucent.
Natural Habitat
Found in human dwellings, particularly bedrooms. They hide in mattresses, bed frames, box springs, headboards, cracks in walls, furniture, and even electrical outlets. They are adept at hitchhiking in luggage, clothing, and used furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Exclusively blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. They feed by piercing the skin with a stylet and sucking blood, usually for 3-10 minutes.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal; they hide in cracks and crevices during the day and come out to feed on blood at night, typically when a host is asleep. They are attracted to warmth, carbon dioxide, and certain chemicals emitted by hosts. Females lay 1-5 eggs per day, accumulating to hundreds over a lifetime.
Risks & Benefits
Potential risks include itchy red welts from bites, allergic reactions, secondary skin infections from scratching, and psychological distress (anxiety, insomnia). They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known benefits of bed bugs to humans or the ecosystem.