IFAS Extension
Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius Linneaus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cimicidae)
Shawn E. Brooks
Release Date: 6/4/2025
Agriculture
Abstract
This document provides a comprehensive profile of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius, detailing its biology, distribution, and management. Bed bugs are blood-feeding parasites found in human dwellings, bird nests, and bat caves. They are active mainly at night and can be transported via clothing and luggage. The document covers identification features, life cycle, and signs of infestation. Management strategies include sanitation, mechanical methods, and cautious use of pesticides. Despite their potential to carry diseases, bed bugs have not been implicated in disease transmission to humans. Published: June 2000.
About this Publication
This document is EENY140, one of a series of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date June 2000. Revised December 2005, June 2010, June 2014, April 2017, and November 2024. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.
About the Authors
How to Cite
Brooks, S. E. (2005). Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius Linneaus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cimicidae). EDIS, 2005(15). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-in297-2000
Contacts
Elena Rhodes
staff
University of Florida
biological scientist III, Department of Entomology and Nematology
Publication #EENY140
