Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

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

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices of beds, mattresses, and upholstered furniture in human dwellings.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeding) insects that primarily feed on human blood, usually at night.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages, each requiring a blood meal to molt.

Risks & Benefits

They do not transmit diseases but their bites can cause skin rashes, allergic reactions, and psychological distress. They are considered a significant public health pest due to the difficulty and cost of eradication.