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

Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, and upholstered furniture.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages (blood-feeders), typically feeding on human blood but occasionally on other warm-blooded animals.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo hemimetabolous (gradual) metamorphosis through five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to molt at each stage.

Risks & Benefits

Significant household pest; bites can cause allergic reactions, skin rashes, and psychological distress. While not known to transmit diseases to humans, infestations are difficult and expensive to eradicate.