Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

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

Natural Habitat

Human dwellings, primarily found in cracks and crevices of mattresses, bed frames, headboards, and upholstered furniture.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeders), primarily targeting humans but may also feed 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 can survive for months without a blood meal.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, sleep deprivation, and psychological distress. While they do not transmit diseases, they are considered a major urban pest that is difficult and expensive to eradicate. They offer no known benefits to humans.