Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size
5 to 7 millimeters in length (about the size of an apple seed).
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Warm, sheltered crevices inside human dwellings, particularly near sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, and baseboards.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

Mainly nocturnal, emerging at night to feed. They move quickly and can survive for several months without a meal. They undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis, passing through five nymphal stages.

Risks & Benefits

A significant household pest. While not known to transmit diseases, their bites cause itching, psychological distress, and allergic reactions. They are difficult to eradicate once established.