
Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 1.5 mm to 5 mm (nymphs to adults)
Natural Habitat
Found indoors in personal items, furniture, and wall crevices, typically near human sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous insects that feed exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive insects that hide during the day. They go through five nymphal stages, each requiring a blood meal to molt into the next stage.
Risks & Benefits
While not known to transmit diseases, they cause itchy bites and significant psychological distress. They provide no known ecosystem benefits for humans.