Knowra Bed bug Bed bug A small, wingless insect in the genus Cimex that feeds on blood, often from people while they sleep. Bed bugs hide in cracks and furnishings near resting places and can persist for months without feeding.
Bed bug feeding : The process by which bed bugs locate a host, pierce skin, and take a blood meal. Their nocturnal blood meals sustain reproduction and cause the characteristic itchy welts.
Bed bug inspection : A systematic search for bed bugs, their eggs, shed skins, and fecal traces. Inspection finds harborages and helps distinguish an infestation from unexplained bites.
Bat bug : A blood-feeding cimicid insect closely related to bed bugs and usually associated with bats. Bat bugs resemble bed bugs, but nearby bats can reveal the source of an infestation.
Bed bug bites : Skin reactions that can follow bed bug feeding and vary from no visible mark to itchy welts. Bites are the most familiar consequence, but their appearance does not reliably identify the insect.
Cimex lectularius : The common bed bug species that feeds chiefly on humans and occurs worldwide. This species accounts for most infestations in temperate regions.
Bed bug life cycle : The sequence of egg, five nymphal stages, and adult in bed bug development. Understanding the stages explains why control must reach both eggs and feeding insects.
Integrated pest management : A pest-control strategy combining monitoring, prevention, and targeted control methods. Bed bug control works best when inspection, physical measures, and carefully chosen treatments are combined.
Flea : A small, wingless, jumping insect whose adults feed on the blood of mammals or birds. Fleas also bite people, but their jumping and host associations distinguish them from bed bugs.
Insomnia : Persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or obtaining restorative sleep. Fear of being bitten and repeated nighttime disturbance can undermine sleep during an infestation.
Cimex hemipterus : A bed bug species found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions that feeds on humans. This second major human-associated species expands the geographic picture beyond common bed bugs.
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