Community identification

Bed Bug

Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae
Size: 1 - 7 mm (nymphs are smaller and lighter in color; adults are about the size of an apple seed).

Natural Habitat

Human dwellings, specifically cracks and crevices in beds, furniture, and walls.

Obligate hematophagy; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.

Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They are attracted to heat and carbon dioxide.

Potential risk of allergic reactions to bites, skin irritation, and significant psychological distress. They are not known to transmit diseases.