
Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 millimeters (roughly the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Found globally in human dwellings, typically hiding in mattress seams, bed frames, cracks, and crevices near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (blood-eaters), primarily feeding on human blood, though they may bite other mammals or birds.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive for several months without a blood meal.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions, skin rashes, psychological distress, and insomnia; though they carry pathogens, they are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to humans.