Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Hemiptera: Cimicidae
Size
4 to 5 mm (about the size of an apple seed)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Human dwellings, specifically in cracks, crevices, mattresses, and bed frames near hosts

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeders), primarily feeding on human blood during the night

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal, elusive, and photophobic; they undergo incomplete metamorphosis through five nymphal stages that each require a blood meal to molt

Risks & Benefits

No known disease transmission, but they cause significant psychological distress, sleep deprivation, and itchy, allergic skin reactions from bites