Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Hemiptera: Cimicidae
Size
4 mm to 7 mm (about the size of an apple seed)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found almost exclusively in human dwellings, typically in cracks, crevices, mattress seams, and furniture near where people sleep.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous (feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, preferring humans).

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and reclusive, emerging at night to feed. They do not fly or jump but crawl quickly. They aggregate in safe harborage areas, often leaving small dark fecal spots.

Risks & Benefits

Primary risk is nuisance biting which causes itchy welts, anxiety, and insomnia. They are not known to transmit disease effectively. No known ecosystem benefits as they are obligate parasites.