Community identification
Bed Bug (Engorged Adult)
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (unfed), larger and more rounded when engorged after a meal
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, specifically in cracks and crevices of mattresses, bed frames, and furniture
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult)
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit diseases but cause itchy welts, psychological distress, and potential allergic reactions; they provide no ecosystem benefits in human environments