Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size
Approximately 4 to 5 millimeters (similar to the size of an apple seed)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Typically found indoors in close proximity to human sleeping quarters, residing in mattress seams, bed frames, furniture cracks, and behind baseboards.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive; they emerge at night to feed and hide during the day. They have a hemimetabolous life cycle (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to progress through each stage.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include skin irritation, allergic reactions to bites, and significant psychological distress or insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known ecological benefits for humans.