Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera; Family Cimicidae
- Size
- Approximately 4–5 mm (about the size of an apple seed) for adults.
Natural Habitat
Typically found in cracks and crevices, mattress seams, bed frames, and furniture within human dwellings.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal feeders that hide during the day and emerge at night; they undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis, growing from egg through five nymphal stages to adulthood.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy bites, allergic reactions, psychological distress, and secondary skin infections; they are not known to transmit diseases to humans but are considered a major urban pest.