Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm in length for adults; smaller for nymphs.
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, primarily found in bedding, mattresses, headboards, and cracks in furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, particularly 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 blood meals to mature.
Risks & Benefits
No known ecosystem benefits. Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, and allergic reactions. While they carry pathogens, they are not known vectors of infectious diseases to humans.