Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera; Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 1mm to 7mm (this specimen appears to be a crushed adult or nymph showing dried blood).
Natural Habitat
Indoors, primarily in cracks and crevices, bed frames, mattresses, and furniture near human sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Hemataphagous (feeds 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
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, sleep deprivation, and secondary skin infections from scratching; they are significant domestic pests. They offer no known ecosystem benefits.