Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

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

Natural Habitat

Typically found in cracks and crevices near human sleeping areas, including mattresses, bed frames, and baseboards.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood feeders, primarily targeting humans but also feeding on other warm-blooded animals.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal insects that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).

Risks & Benefits

They are nuisance pests that cause itchy bites and psychological distress; they are not known to transmit diseases to humans but infestations are difficult to eradicate.