Bug Identifier
Bed bug (probable)
Community identification

Bed bug (probable)

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Hemiptera; Cimicidae
Size
Adults are about 4–7 mm long—roughly apple-seed sized; nymphs are smaller and paler.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Mattresses, bed frames, upholstered furniture, cracks, and other sheltered indoor locations, usually near sleeping hosts.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds exclusively on blood, primarily from humans and occasionally other warm-blooded animals. It usually feeds at night and retreats afterward.

Behavior Patterns

Flattened, wingless adults hide in crevices and can survive months without feeding. They spread by crawling or hitchhiking in luggage, clothing, and furniture; the image is too blurred for definitive identification.

Risks & Benefits

Not known to transmit diseases efficiently, but bites can cause itching, allergic reactions, and secondary infection from scratching. They provide no meaningful household benefit and can be difficult and costly to eliminate.