Bed Bugs

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Pest Categories: Structural (homes and buildings) • Human Health 

Also known as: 

  • chintzes
  • chinches
  • mahogany flats 
  • red coats 
  • crimson ramblers 
  • wall lice 
  • the bug that nobody knows
  •  lentils on legs 
  • animated blood drops

Skinny or Fat, Always a Nuisance

Bring samples to your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office for reliable ID. Note if you have found young or adult bed bugs, fecal stains or eggs.

The common bed bug has returned as a significant pest across the United States. First recognized in the tourism industry in the late 1990s, bed bug infestations are now common in homes. People dealing with infestations can spread bed bugs to the homes of family and friends, to public places, and to their workplace. From here, bugs can hitchhike on personal belongings to new places. To stop the spread of bed bugs you can take action to remove bed bugs from your personal belongings and reduce the number of bugs in your home. 

Although they feed exclusively on blood, bed bugs are not known to transmit any diseases to humans. They may be horrifying to some, but they pose less of a risk to us than do mosquitoes. In fact, if improperly applied, pesticides intended to manage bed bugs could be more of a risk to your health.