Community identification
Common Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera; Family Cimicidae
- Size
- 1 to 7 millimeters in length, depending on life stage and feeding status.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically cracks and crevices near human sleeping areas, mattresses, and furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagy; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they use carbon dioxide and heat to locate hosts at night. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy bites, allergic reactions, secondary skin infections, and significant psychological distress; they are not known biological vectors of disease. There are no ecological benefits to humans.