Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, particularly in cracks and crevices of mattresses, bed frames, furniture, and baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals)
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and highly secretive, hiding during the day and emerging at night to feed. They go through incomplete metamorphosis from egg to nymph to adult.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy bites, potential secondary skin infections from scratching, and psychological distress from infestations. They offer no known benefits to humans.