Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (adults), roughly the size of an apple seed.
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, primarily found in bed frames, mattresses, cracks and crevices, and behind wallpaper or baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that stay hidden during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to transition between stages.
Risks & Benefits
No known ecosystem benefits. Risks include allergic reactions to bites, psychological distress, insomnia, and the potential for secondary skin infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans.