bedbug

bedbug
/bed"bug'/, n.
1. a flat, wingless, bloodsucking hemipterous insect, Cimex lectularius, that infests houses and esp. beds.
2. any of several other bloodsucking bugs of the family Cimicidae.
Also, bed bug.
[1800-10; BED + BUG1]

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Any member of approximately 75 species of nocturnal insects (family Cimicidae) that feed by sucking the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals.

The reddish brown adult is broad and flat and less than 0.2 in. (4–5 mm) long. Among the most cosmopolitan of human parasites, they are found in every kind of dwelling. They digest meals slowly; adults have lived for at least a year without food. Though the bite is irritating, it is not known to transmit diseases to humans.

Bedbug (Cimex lectularius) magnified 5 ×

William E. Ferguson

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▪ insect
 any of about 75 species of insects in the true bug order, Heteroptera, that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. The reddish brown adult is broad and flat and 4 to 5 mm (less than 0.2 inch) long. The greatly atrophied, scalelike, vestigial wings are inconspicuous and nonfunctioning. The distinctive, oily odour of bedbugs results from a secretion of the scent, or stink, glands. Each female lays an average of 200 or more eggs during a single reproductive period, and three or more generations may be produced in a year.

      Bedbugs are among the most cosmopolitan of human parasites. They are found in every kind of dwelling place, hiding during the day and coming out at night to feed. After feeding, they retreat to their hiding place to digest the meal, which may require several days. Adult specimens have lived for at least a year without food. Although the bedbug has an irritating bite, it is not known to transmit diseases to humans.

      Cimex lectularius, which occurs in temperate regions, and C. hemipterus, which is common in the tropics, attach to humans. The species C. pilosellus lives on bats and, although known as a bat bug, will bite humans and is sometimes found living in human dwellings. Species of Oeciacus live on swallows and martins, Cimexopsis nyctalis live on chimney swifts, and Haematosiphon inodora live on poultry. The latter has been known to feed on humans and pigs as well.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bedbug — Bed bug , n. (Zo[ o]l.) A wingless, bloodsucking, hemipterous insect ({Cimex Lectularius}), sometimes infesting houses and especially beds. See Illustration in Appendix. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bedbug — also bed bug, 1772, from BED (Cf. bed) + BUG (Cf. bug). [The bed bug] is supposed to have been first introduced to this country in the fir timber that was brought over to rebuild London after it had suffered by the great fire; for it is generally …   Etymology dictionary

  • bedbug — ► NOUN ▪ a wingless bug which sucks the blood of sleeping humans …   English terms dictionary

  • bedbug — [bed′bug΄] n. any of various members of a family (Cimicidae) of wingless, bloodsucking hemipteran insects, esp. the species (Cimex lectularius) with a broad, flat, reddish brown body and an unpleasant odor that infests beds, furniture, walls, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Bedbug — Taxobox name = Bedbug image width = 250px image caption = Cimex lectularius regnum = Animalia phylum = Arthropoda classis = Insecta ordo = Hemiptera subordo = Heteroptera familia = Cimicidae familia authority = Kirkaldy, 1909 subdivision ranks =… …   Wikipedia

  • bedbug — Bug Bug (b[u^]g), n. [OE. bugge, fr. W. bwg, bwgan, hobgoblin, scarecrow, bugbear. Cf. {Bogey}, {Boggle}.] 1. A bugbear; anything which terrifies. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Sir, spare your threats: The bug which you would fright me with I seek. Shak …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bedbug — UK [ˈbedˌbʌɡ] / US noun [countable] Word forms bedbug : singular bedbug plural bedbugs an insect with a round body and no wings that sucks people s blood, especially when they are in bed …   English dictionary

  • bedbug — [[t]be̱dbʌg[/t]] bedbugs N COUNT A bedbug is a small insect with a round body and no wings which lives in dirty houses and feeds by biting people and sucking their blood when they are in bed. Syn: parasite …   English dictionary

  • Bedbug (comics) — superherobox caption = character name =Bedbug publisher =Shooting Star Comics debut = Shooting Star Comics Anthology #1 (Summer 2001) creators =Scott Rogers alter ego =Buddy Sprang Base of operations = Silicon City alliances =Super Battalion… …   Wikipedia

  • bedbug — noun Date: 1808 a wingless bloodsucking hemipterous bug (Cimex lectularius) sometimes infesting houses and especially beds and feeding on human blood …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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