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 within crevices of mattresses, bed frames, furniture, and baseboards in human dwellings.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous insects, feeding 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 molt into each successive stage.

Risks & Benefits

They pose a significant public health risk as a nuisance pest causing allergic reactions, skin rashes, and psychological distress. While they are not known to transmit diseases, infestations are difficult and expensive to eradicate.