Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 1 to 7 millimeters (about the size of an apple seed when adult).
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, primarily found in cracks and crevices of beds, mattresses, headboards, and upholstered furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that emerge from hiding places at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to advance each stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions, skin rashes, and psychological distress. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans but are considered a significant public health nuisance due to their difficulty to eradicate.