Bug Identifier
Bed bug
Community identification

Bed bug

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Hemiptera, Cimicidae
Size
4 to 5 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found indoors in human dwellings, typically in cracks and crevices of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and surrounding furniture.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded hosts, primarily humans)

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and highly secretive, emerging mainly at night to feed. They do not fly or jump, but crawl rapidly.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include painful, itchy bites, secondary skin infections from scratching, and severe psychological distress or anxiety. They offer no known benefits to humans.