Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices of mattresses, bed frames, and furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Exclusively blood, primarily from humans, but also from other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit diseases but cause itchy bites, allergic reactions, and significant psychological distress; they have no ecological benefits to humans.