
Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (adults), roughly the size of an apple seed.
Natural Habitat
Found globally in human dwellings, particularly in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, and furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Mainly nocturnal and elusive, hiding during the day and emerging at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages, each requiring a blood meal to molt.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy welts, allergic reactions, and psychological distress/insomnia. While they do not transmit diseases to humans, they are a significant pest that is difficult and expensive to eradicate. They provide no known ecosystem benefits in human environments.