Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

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

Natural Habitat

Found inside residential buildings, hotels, and communal spaces, typically hiding in mattress seams, bed frames, and cracks near sleeping areas.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages; they 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 require a blood meal to progress through each growth stage.

Risks & Benefits

Significant nuisance pests causing itchy bites, skin rashes, and psychological distress. While they do not transmit diseases to humans, infestations are difficult to eradicate and can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.