# Bed Bug — Facts, Threats & Conservation

*Cimex lectularius*

> The common bed bug is a small flat insect that feeds exclusively on blood, mainly from humans at night while they sleep. Roughly 5 mm long and reddish-brown, it hides in mattress seams and furniture, resists many pesticides, and has resurged globally in hotels and homes — listed Not Evaluated by IUCN.

**IUCN status:** Not Evaluated  ·  **WARN range:** Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America

## Quick facts
| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Cimex lectularius |
| Diet | Blood — primarily human; also bats and birds in wild settings |
| Habitat | Human dwellings, hotels, dormitories, and bedding worldwide |
| Lifespan | 6–12 months; can survive months without feeding |
| Weight | 5–7 mg (0.000005–0.000007 kg) when unfed |
| Top speed | Crawls ~1 m per minute; does not fly or jump |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated (IUCN) |

## Scientific classification
- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Hemiptera
- **Family:** Cimicidae
- **Genus:** Cimex

## Conservation status
- **Status:** Not Evaluated (IUCN Red List category)
- **Population:** Global population not compiled for this guide
- **Trend:** See the IUCN Red List assessment
- **Assessed:** See the IUCN Red List assessment
- **CITES:** See CITES appendices
- Conservation figures are drawn from the IUCN Red List and CITES; this guide links to the authoritative sources rather than restating population counts.

## Key facts: Bed Bug
- Bed bugs emerge from hiding in darkness, attracted by carbon dioxide and body heat.
- Bed bugs nearly disappeared in wealthy countries after DDT use mid-century but resurged since the 1990s with international travel, pesticide resistance, and reduced use of broad-spectrum insecticides.
- Signs include rusty spots (faecal stains), shed skins, and a sweet musty odour in heavy infestations.

## Nocturnal blood feeding
Bed bugs emerge from hiding in darkness, attracted by carbon dioxide and body heat. They pierce skin with elongated mouthparts, feed for 5–10 minutes, then retreat to cracks. Bites often appear in lines or clusters but reactions vary — some people show no marks.

## Resurgence and resistance
Bed bugs nearly disappeared in wealthy countries after DDT use mid-century but resurged since the 1990s with international travel, pesticide resistance, and reduced use of broad-spectrum insecticides. They spread via luggage, furniture, and clothing.

## Detection and treatment
Signs include rusty spots (faecal stains), shed skins, and a sweet musty odour in heavy infestations. Heat treatment above 50°C kills all life stages. Professional extermination often combines heat, steam, encasements, and targeted insecticides.

## Health impacts
Bed bugs are not known to transmit disease to humans despite blood feeding. Bites cause itching, allergic reactions, and psychological distress — anxiety and sleep loss are common during infestations. Not Evaluated by IUCN as a human-associated pest.

## What WARN does
WARN does not run a dedicated bed bug programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The bed bug is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the bed bug supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.

## Frequently asked questions: Bed Bug
### Do bed bugs spread disease?
No confirmed disease transmission to humans — unlike ticks or mosquitoes. The main harm is itching, allergic reaction, and psychological stress.

### How do you get bed bugs?
They hitchhike on luggage, used furniture, and clothing from infested hotels, homes, or public transport. They do not arrive from poor hygiene alone.

### Can bed bugs fly?
No — they have no wings and cannot jump. They crawl between rooms and spread through walls and pipes in multi-unit buildings.

### How do you kill bed bugs?
Professional heat treatment, steam, mattress encasements, and targeted pesticides. Washing bedding at high heat helps but rarely eliminates infestation alone.

### What do bed bugs eat?
Bed Bugs eat Blood — primarily human; also bats and birds in wild settings. The common bed bug is a small flat insect that feeds exclusively on blood, mainly from humans at night while they sleep.

### Where do bed bugs live?
Bed Bugs live in Human dwellings, hotels, dormitories, and bedding worldwide. The common bed bug is a small flat insect that feeds exclusively on blood, mainly from humans at night while they sleep.

### Are bed bugs dangerous?
Bed Bugs are not generally dangerous to people. The common bed bug is a small flat insect that feeds exclusively on blood, mainly from humans at night while they sleep. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.

### How long do bed bugs live?
Bed Bugs typically live 6–12 months; can survive months without feeding. The common bed bug is a small flat insect that feeds exclusively on blood, mainly from humans at night while they sleep. Wild and captive figures can differ; use the sources listed on the guide for the underlying studies.

### How big is a bed bug?
A Bed Bug is about 6–12 months; can survive months without feeding. The common bed bug is a small flat insect that feeds exclusively on blood, mainly from humans at night while they sleep. Conservation status: Not Evaluated (IUCN).

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Bed Bug](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed_bug)
- [Wikidata — Bed Bug](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48385308)

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Full guide: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bed-bug