Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (adults), similar to the size of an apple seed.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically cracks and crevices near sleeping areas, mattresses, box springs, and furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal; they emerge at night to feed and hide during the day. They have an incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive for months without a blood meal.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy, red welts (bites), secondary skin infections from scratching, and psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans but are an ecosystem nuisance.