Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera / Cimicidae
- Size
- 1mm to 7mm depending on life stage and level of engorgement.
Natural Habitat
Inhabits human dwellings, specifically in cracks, crevices, mattress seams, and bed frames near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (obligate blood feeders); primarily feed on human blood but may feed on other mammals or birds.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and attract one another via aggregation pheromones.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include skin rashes, psychological distress, and allergic reactions to bites; they are not known vectors of clinical diseases but are significant urban pests with no ecosystem benefits.