Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 1 mm (nymphs) to 5 mm (adults)
Natural Habitat
Cracks and crevices in homes, bedrooms, furniture, mattresses, and bed frames near human sleeping areas
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (feeds exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans)
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal, hiding during the day in tight spaces and emerging at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymphal stages, and adult).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, psychological distress, and secondary skin infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans but cause significant domestic infestations.