Bug Identifier
Bed bug (inferred from bite marks)
Community identification

Bed bug (inferred from bite marks)

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Hemiptera: Cimicidae
Size
4 to 5 mm (adult length)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Indoor human environments, specifically mattresses, bed frames, furniture seams, and baseboard crevices.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous; feeds exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, predominantly humans.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal feeding habits, emerging from hiding places in darkness to feed on sleeping hosts. Bite marks often appear in linear or clustered patterns, commonly referred to as 'breakfast, lunch, and dinner' tracks.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include localized allergic skin reactions, intense itching, secondary bacterial skin infections from scratching, sleep disturbance, and psychological stress. They are not known to transmit infectious human diseases.