Family Cimicidae - Bed and Bat Bugs

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Internet References

please help identify - Cimex lectularius

Cimex species (Bed Bug) - Cimex lectularius

Swallow bug, Oeciacus vicarius - Oeciacus vicarius

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Family Cimicidae (Bed and Bat Bugs)

Numbers

15 species in 8 genera in North America (nearctica.com)

7 species in Canada (Entomological Society of Manitoba - PDF doc)

Size

3-9 mm

Identification

body flat, broadly oval, yellowish to reddish-brown; very short non-functional wings

Range

cosmopolitan

Habitat

on or near host animal (birds and mammals)

Season

year-round

Food

parasitic: nymphs and adults feed on blood of host animal

Life Cycle

multiple generations per year

Internet References

adult and nymph images of bed bugs (U. of Toronto)

adult bat bug images plus distribution, description, biology etc. (Ohio State U.)

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 23 April, 2005 - 12:43am
Last updated 25 April, 2007 - 9:08pm

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