Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size
1 to 7 millimeters (about the size of an apple seed when adult).
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found globally in human dwellings, typically hiding in mattress seams, bed frames, cracks, and crevices near sleeping areas.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.

Behavior Patterns

Mainly nocturnal; they emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molt into the next stage.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy welts, allergic reactions, and psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known ecological benefits.