safe search: Answer to Case 574

Answer to Case 574

Answer to Parasite Case of the Week 574: Holiday bedbug, most likely Cimex lecturlaris. We seem to have some 'controversy' about the nomenclature here; Eagleville identified this as Cimex lectularius (subspecies Santaclausus), whereas Idzi identified it as Cimex santaclarius. I will rely on my taxonomy experts to tell us which is correct 😉.

For now, I'll leave you with this festive poem from Blaine:

Dashing through the sheets

on six segmented feet

O'er the pillows they go

sucking blood all the way

lap lap lap

Pointed beak goes down

after you turn off the lights

oh what fun it is to suck

blood from a host tonight

Oh, bed bugs suck

bed bugs suck

bed bugs suck your blood