Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size
4 to 5 mm long (about the size of an apple seed)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Typically found in human dwellings, hidden in cracks, crevices, mattress seams, and upholstered furniture.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive; they emerge at night to feed and can survive for months without a meal. They undergo hemimetabolous (incomplete) metamorphosis.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include physical reactions like itching and allergic responses, as well as significant psychological stress and insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans but have no ecosystem benefits in domestic settings.