 [ Symptoms ] what are bedbugs [ Disease ] cimex lectularius    commonly referred to as bedbugs    are nocturnal blood feeding reddish brown wingless insects measuring 110 to 210 of an inch in size bedbug populations in the u s have increased by 500 in the past few years likely due to the rise in international travel and the elimination of pesticides like ddt which had been highly effective in destroying bedbugs