Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- Approximately 4 to 5 mm (about the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically within human dwellings close to sleeping areas such as mattress seams, bed frames, furniture, and wall crevices
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagy; 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 hemimetabolous development (egg, nymphal stages, and adult) and require a blood meal to molt into each successive stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, skin infections from scratching, and significant psychological distress or insomnia. They are not currently known to transmit pathogens to humans, but their presence is a major nuisance and requires professional pest control for eradication.