Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

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

Natural Habitat

Nests in human dwellings, typically in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and cracks or 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 at each life 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 ecological benefits to their presence in human homes.