
Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4–5 mm (adults), about the size of an apple seed
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, specifically in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas such as mattresses, box springs, and bed frames
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, feeding primarily on the blood of humans and occasionally other warm-blooded animals
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 blood meals to molt.
Risks & Benefits
They do not known to transmit diseases, but their bites can cause allergic reactions, skin rashes, and psychological distress. They provide no known ecological benefits in human environments.