Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 1 to 7 millimeters (adults are roughly the size of an apple seed).
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, specifically in bed frames, mattresses, crevices, and soft furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages (blood-feeders), primarily feeding on human blood.
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 the next stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, skin infections from scratching, insomnia, and psychological distress. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to their presence in human environments.