Bug Identifier
Bed Bug
Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family
Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size
Typically 4 to 5 millimeters (about the size of an apple seed) when fully grown.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Habitats primarily include indoor environments where humans reside, such as mattresses, bed frames, furniture, and cracks or crevices in walls.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

They are predominantly nocturnal and elusive, hiding during the day and emerging at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to progress through each life stage.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, and significant psychological distress or insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known ecological benefits for humans.