Definition

Noun: * Bedbug: A small, wingless, reddish-brown insect (Cimex lectularius) that is a parasite of humans and some other warm-blooded animals. It is primarily active at night and hides in crevices during the day, especially in bedding and furniture. It feeds exclusively on blood.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The hotel had an infestation of Cimex lectularius, forcing it to close for fumigation.
  • A single female Cimex lectularius can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime.
  • Identifying Cimex lectularius early is key to controlling an outbreak.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific and Formal Contexts: The term is used primarily in scientific, medical, entomological, and formal pest control contexts. In everyday language, "bedbug" is far more common.
  • The study focused on the pesticide resistance developed by Cimex lectularius populations.

Variants and Related Words

• Bedbug (n): The common name for .
• Cimicidae (n): The insect family to which bedbugs belong.
• Infestation (n): A state of being overrun by pests such as .

Synonyms

• Bedbug
• Redcoat (archaic/slang)
• Mahogany flat (archaic/slang)

Related Phrases

• Bedbug infestation: A situation where a location is heavily populated by .
  • The apartment building was condemned due to a severe bedbug infestation.

Noun

1. bug of temperate regions that infests especially beds and feeds on human blood