Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 1 to 7 millimeters (0.04 to 0.28 inches) depending on life stage and feeding status.
Natural Habitat
Nests in cracks, crevices, upholstery, mattress seams, and electrical outlets in human dwellings near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molt.
Risks & Benefits
They do not known to transmit diseases, but their bites can cause allergic reactions, skin rashes, psychological distress, and secondary infections from scratching. They provide no known ecosystem benefits in human environments.