Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 1mm to 7mm (about the size of an apple seed when adult)
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, specifically in cracks and crevices, bed frames, mattresses, and furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous insects that feed exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Mainly nocturnal pests that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages, each requiring a blood meal to molt.
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit diseases but their bites can cause allergic reactions, skin rashes, and psychological distress. They are significant urban pests that are difficult and expensive to eradicate.