Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

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

Natural Habitat

Found globally in human dwellings, typically hiding in mattress seams, bed frames, cracks, and crevices near sleeping areas.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous (blood-eaters), primarily feeding on human blood, though they may bite other mammals or birds.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal insects that emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive for several months without a blood meal.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy allergic reactions, skin rashes, psychological distress, and insomnia; though they carry pathogens, they are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to humans.