
Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found indoors in human dwellings, typically hiding in crevices of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, furniture, and baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals)
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and active primarily at night, seeking hosts while they sleep. They are wingless, unable to fly or jump, and crawl swiftly.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy, irritating bites and secondary skin infections from scratching; severe infestations can cause psychological distress. They provide no known benefits to human dwellings.