Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera; Cimicidae
- Size
- Adults are about 4–7 mm long; the image is too small for precise identification.
Natural Habitat
Indoors, hiding in mattress seams, bed frames, furniture, and wall cracks near people.
Diet & Feeding
Blood-feeding ectoparasite, primarily on humans; it can also feed on other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and secretive; hides during the day and emerges to feed. Females lay eggs in sheltered crevices, and infestations can spread via luggage or used furnishings.
Risks & Benefits
Bites can cause itchy welts and allergic reactions, and infestations are difficult and costly to eliminate. Bed bugs are not known to transmit human diseases.