Species guide
Bed bug
Can bite or stingCimex lectularius
How to recognise it
A flat, oval, reddish-brown insect about the size of an apple seed (~5 mm), wingless. Bites often appear in small lines or clusters on exposed skin.
Is it dangerous?
Bites itch but are not known to transmit disease. The real problem is how hard infestations are to clear once established.
Commonly confused with
- Young cockroaches — longer, with legs that show
- Carpet beetles — rounder, patterned wing cases
What to do
Avoid spreading them on luggage or bedding, and get professional treatment — DIY rarely fully clears an infestation.
Recorded 3,226 times in the wild worldwide.
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