Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm long
Natural Habitat
Found indoors in cracks and crevices of mattresses, furniture, and baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded hosts.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and highly secretive, emerging primarily at night to feed and returning to dark hiding spots during the day.
Risks & Benefits
Bites cause itchy, irritated skin welts, and infestations can lead to severe psychological distress and sleep disruption; they provide no ecological benefits to humans.