Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera; Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 1 to 7 millimeters (about the size of an apple seed when adult)
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, specifically cracks and crevices in beds, furniture, floors, and walls.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning 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).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, sleep deprivation, and psychological distress. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known benefits.