
Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera / Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (about the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Typically found in cracks and crevices near human sleeping areas, including mattresses, bed frames, and baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood feeders, primarily targeting humans but also feeding on other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).
Risks & Benefits
They are nuisance pests that cause itchy bites and psychological distress; they are not known to transmit diseases to humans but infestations are difficult to eradicate.