Have you ever had a sleepless night due to an annoying bug crawling around your bed? Chances are, if this has happened to you, then you have encountered bed bugs.
They are tiny and sneaky insects that feed on human blood while their victims sleep soundly. The chances of having a binfestation increase greatly when traveling or staying in public places – but they can also be found living in homes!
To better protect yourself from any future unwanted visitors, it is crucial to know their different types that exist and how to identify them.
This blog post will cover the 7 basic types so you can be better prepared for any potential dirt-diggers snooping around your mattress at night!
Different Types
There are 7 different species of them, but the most common type is the Cimex lectularius.
These species are most commonly found in households, hotels, public transportation, and other places humans frequent.
All these 7 types have different characteristics and behaviors. Each type is unique in its own way, requiring different types of pest control measures to be effectively eliminated.
1. Cimex Lectularius
The name gives away the fact that this particular insect is a common bed bug found all over the globe.
It is thought to have been brought to the United States in the 1990s due to the significant migration period, and it is now essentially prevalent across Asia and Europe.
They are around the size of an apple seed when fully grown. They are long and flat, with one end being round and the opposite being pointy.
They have a dark brown tint, and when seen up close, they have a distinctively hairy appearance. Cimex lectularius behave similarly to mosquitoes in that they feed on blood and enter dwellings via cracks and fissures in the structure.
2. Cimex Hemipterus
These species are also known as the tropical. It has a wider geographical range than the Cimex lectularius and can be found in regions of Africa, South America, and the Caribbean.
In contrast to the Cimex lectularius, this species is smaller in size, measuring only around 5 millimeters in length. It also has a lighter brown color and lacks the hairy appearance of its more common counterpart.
In terms of their outward look and mannerisms, they are identical to the typical. Although, the tropical type was eradicated from the United States in the 1940s.
In 2016 it was found again in the states of Florida and Georgia.
3. Leptocimex Boueti
This is called the savannah, found in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has a flattened shape similar to the Cimex lectularius but is considerably smaller in size – only around 3 to 4 millimeters long.
It is dark brown-red, and its back is covered with small spines.
Unlike the other species, this one mainly feeds on birds rather than humans.
It is thought to have been introduced by migrating birds and can also be found in the Caribbean Islands and parts of Central America.
4. Cimex Pilosellus
The western conifer seed bug is a type of found in the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe.
It is usually found in homes where it feeds on both humans and birds, but it mainly prefers conifer tree seeds as its food source. The fun fact about this type is that it can also feed on other insects, such as termites.
It is similar to the Cimex lectularius but much larger in size – up to 10 millimeters long. It is orange-brown, and its back is covered with small spines.
5. Oeciacus Vicarius
These insects prefer to feast on birds than humans. In particular, swallows are a favorite food. Unlike many other types of birds, swallows build nests.
They remind me more of stink bugs, if anything. Baby birds might feel secure in these confined, gloomy places.
Common prey includes cliff and barn swallows. Bed insects, however, thrive in dark, confined spaces. Oesiacus vicarius can be found in colonies, usually on the top of walls or ceilings.
These bugs are oval-shaped and about 5 millimeters long, making them smaller than other species. If disturbed, these insects have the ability to fall and fly.
6. Haematosiphon Inodora
Haematosiphon indorus is also known as Mexican chicken bugs. They are mostly the same as common bed insects, but they are developed to feed on chickens. If you raise poultry, you may have come across them.
In modern times, other types of bugs than Mexican chicken bugs are just as likely to prey on chickens. Hence, the same methods used to eliminate different kinds of bugs also work for them.
They have a pale yellow-green color which makes them easy to spot. The main difference between them and other insects is that they have almost straight bodies and lack the pointy head of their relatives.
7. Cimexopsis Nyctalis
If you live in a warm and humid environment, you should be on the lookout for Cimexopsis Nyctalis. These are oval-shaped and often range in shades of brown.
Cimexopsis Nyctalis like to feed on larger animals, such as dogs and cats, but they don’t hesitate to bite humans if they are in the area. These bugs are typically found in the southern United States.
The term “chimney swift bug” is another name for these insects. They resemble bedbugs quite closely, except their legs are a little longer.
On the other hand, there are a few key distinctions between them and chimney swift bugs:
- Chimney swifts aren’t nocturnal creatures; they also come out during the day.
- These insects are capable of scaling vertical and slick surfaces.
- Chimney swifts will rather inhabit wall cavities or crevices than your mattress.