Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

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

Natural Habitat

Human dwellings, specifically beds, furniture, and cracks/crevices near sleeping areas

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous, feeding exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed; they undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages requiring blood meals to molt

Risks & Benefits

Significant nuisance pests that cause itchy bites and psychological distress; they are not known to transmit diseases to humans, but can cause allergic reactions in some individuals