Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

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

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, specifically cracks, crevices, bedding, and baseboards within human dwellings.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive for months without a meal.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy skin rashes, allergic reactions, and psychological distress. While they do not transmit diseases, they are considered a significant public health pest. They provide no ecosystem benefits in a human domestic setting.