Bed Bug (Crushed)

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae

Size: Adults are 4–5 mm long; when crushed (as pictured), they appear as irregular reddish smears or small oval fragments.

Bed Bug (Crushed)

Natural Habitat

Found in human dwellings, typically nesting in cracks, crevices, mattresses, bed frames, and behind wallpaper or baseboards.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeders), primarily targeting humans but also feeding on other warm-blooded animals.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive for months without a blood meal.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, sleep deprivation, and psychological distress. While they carry pathogens, they are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits in a human environment.

Identified on: 3/6/2026