Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Order Hemiptera; Family Cimicidae
Size
4 to 5 mm (adults), roughly the size of an apple seed.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Typically found in human dwellings, specifically in cracks and crevices, bed frames, mattresses, and upholstered furniture.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molt into each successive stage.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, skin rashes, and psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known benefits to the ecosystem from their presence in human environments.