Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 millimeters long as adults, while nymphs are smaller and translucent.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and cracks in bedroom furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophage feeding exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that hide in dark crevices during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis through five nymphal stages.
Risks & Benefits
Bites cause itchy, red welts and allergic reactions in humans, and infestations lead to severe psychological distress. They provide no known ecological benefits to human dwellings.