Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size
4 to 5 mm long as adults; nymphs are smaller and translucent depending on life stage.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found primarily in human dwellings, hidden in mattresses, bed frames, electrical outlets, and crevices near sleeping areas.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal, elusive, and photophobic; they emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolous), passing through five nymphal stages that each require a blood meal to molt.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy welts, allergic reactions, and psychological distress/insomnia. While they do not transmit diseases, they are considered significant public health pests that are difficult and expensive to eradicate.