
Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4–5 mm (about the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically near sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, headboards, and cracks or crevices in furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molt into the next life stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, and allergic reactions to bites. They are considered a significant public health pest, though they are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits in a domestic setting.