Bed Bug (Fecal Spotting/Blood Stain)
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- There is no insect in the photo, only a stain. Adult bed bugs are 4-5 mm long (about the size of an apple seed); eggs are 1 mm; stains vary in size.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically in close proximity to human sleeping areas such as mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, and upholstered furniture. They hide in cracks and crevices during the day.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded mammals), primarily humans, usually obtaining blood meals at night.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive. They aggregate in harborage sites. Evidence of their presence includes rusty or reddish blood spots on sheets (seen here) caused by crushed bugs, or dark fecal spots from excreted digested blood.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Bites can caused itchy red welts, allergic reactions, secondary skin infections from scratching, significant anxiety, and sleep disturbance. They are not known to transmit disease but are difficult and costly to eradicate. Benefits: None known to humans or the domestic ecosystem.