Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera; Cimicidae
- Size
- Adults are about 4–7 mm long, roughly apple-seed sized; juveniles are smaller and pale.
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, especially mattresses, upholstered furniture, clothing, and cracks near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds almost exclusively on blood, mainly from humans, using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Behavior Patterns
Mostly nocturnal and hide in seams or crevices during daylight. They can survive months without feeding and spread by hitchhiking in luggage, clothing, and furniture.
Risks & Benefits
Bites cause itchy, inflamed welts and can trigger allergic reactions, but bed bugs are not known to transmit disease routinely. They provide no meaningful household benefit.