Community identification
Bed Bug (Crushed)
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm long as adults (often appearing flattened and oval, or elongated when engorged with blood)
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices of beds, furniture, electronics, and walls near sleeping areas
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages (feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans)
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal, hiding during the day and emerging at night to feed; life cycle includes egg, five nymphal stages, and adult, requiring a blood meal to molt at each stage
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Cause itchy, red welts through bites, potential allergic reactions, and significant psychological distress/anxiety; they are not known to transmit diseases to humans. Benefits: None.