
Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 millimeters in length (approx. the size of an apple seed).
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, primarily found in cracks and crevices of mattresses, bed frames, headboards, and upholstered furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that emerge at night to feed. They undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molted between each stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions, skin rashes, and psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known ecological benefits for human dwellings.