Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

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

Natural Habitat

Found globally indoors, specifically in personal residences, hotels, and public transportation near sleeping or seating areas.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive insects that hide in cracks, crevices, mattress seams, and headboards during the day, emerging at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).

Risks & Benefits

They do not known to transmit diseases, but their bites can cause allergic reactions, skin rashes, and significant psychological distress or insomnia. They offer no ecological benefits in human environments and are considered a major pest.