Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera; Family Cimicidae
- Size
- 1 to 7 millimeters (about the size of an apple seed when fully grown)
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, primarily in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas, such as mattresses, bed frames, and baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to molt into each subsequent stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, and allergic reactions from bites. They do not typically transmit diseases to humans. There are no known ecological benefits to their presence in human environments.