Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 mm to 5 mm (about the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices of beds, mattresses, furniture, and wall junctions.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous; feeds exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive, hiding during the day and emerging at night to feed. They are attracted to warmth, carbon dioxide, and body odor.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include painful, itchy bites, secondary skin infections from scratching, and psychological distress due to infestation. They provide no known ecological or domestic benefits.