Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

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

Natural Habitat

Human dwellings, primarily found in bedding, mattress seams, bed frames, and cracks or crevices near sleeping areas.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive. They typically emerge at night to feed and return to hidden harborages. They go through five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to molt at each stage.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy, red welts (often in a line or cluster), psychological distress, and potential secondary skin infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to humans.