Bed bug

Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Superfamily:	Cimicoidea
Family:	Cimicidae Latreille, 1802
Subfamilies, genera and species
Subfamily Afrociminae Genus Afrocimex Afrocimex constrictus Subfamily Cimicinae Genus Bertilia Genus Cimex Cimex adjunctus Cimex antennatus Cimex brevis Cimex columbarius Cimex incrassatus Cimex latipennis Cimex lectularius Cimex hemipterus (C. rotundatus) Cimex pilosellus Cimex pipistrella Genus Oeciacus Oeciacus hirundinis Oeciacus vicarius Genus Paracimex Genus Propicimex Subfamily Cacodminae Genus Aphrania Genus Cacodomus Genus Crassicimex Genus Leptocimex Leptocimex boueti Genus Loxaspis Genus Stricticimex Subfamily Haematosiphoninae Genus Caminicimex Genus Cimexopsis Cimexopsis nyctalis Genus Haematosiphon Haematosiphon inodorus Genus Hesperocimex Hesperocimex coloradensis Hesperocimex sonorensis Genus Ornithocoris Ornithocoris pallidus Ornithocoris toledoi Genus Psitticimex Genus Synxenoderus Synxenoderus comosus Subfamily Latrocimicinae Genus Latrocimex Subfamily Primicimicinae Genus Bucimex Genus Primicimex Primicimex cavernis

Bed bugs are parasitic insects of the cimicid family that feed exclusively on blood. Cimex lectularius, the common bed bug, is the best known as it prefers to feed on human blood. Other Cimex species specialize in other animals, e.g., bat bugs, such as Cimex pipistrelli (Europe), Cimex pilosellus (western US), and Cimex adjunctus (entire eastern US).

The name bed bug derives from the preferred habitat of Cimex lectularius: warm houses and especially near or inside beds and bedding or other sleep areas. Bed bugs are mainly active at night, but are not exclusively nocturnal. They usually feed on their hosts without being noticed.

A number of adverse health effects may result from bed bug bites, including skin rashes, psychological effects, and allergic symptoms. Bed bugs are not known to transmit any pathogens as disease vectors. Certain signs and symptoms suggest the presence of bed bugs; finding the adult insects confirms the diagnosis.

Bed bugs have been known as human parasites for thousands of years. At a point in the early 1940s, they were mostly eradicated in the developed world, but have increased in prevalence since 1995, likely due to pesticide resistance, governmental bans on effective pesticides, and international travel. Because infestation of human habitats has begun to increase, bed bug bites and related conditions have been on the rise as well.

Diagnosis of an infestation involves both finding bed bugs and the occurrence of compatible symptoms. Treatment involves the elimination of the insect (including its eggs) and taking measures to treat symptoms until they resolve.

Bed bug bites or cimicosis may lead to a range of skin manifestations from no visible effects to prominent blisters. Effects include skin rashes, psychological effects, and allergic symptoms.