Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (about the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Found exclusively in human environments, hidden in cracks, crevices, mattress seams, and upholstered furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive insects that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo simple metamorphosis through five nymph stages, requiring a blood meal to molt at each stage.
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit disease but cause itchy welts, allergic reactions, and significant psychological distress. They have no known benefits to the ecosystem or humans.