Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera; Family Cimicidae
- Size
- 4–5 mm long; 1.5–3 mm wide (roughly the size of an apple seed).
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, primarily in mattresses, bed frames, cracks, and crevices near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages (blood-eaters), primarily feed on human blood but may bite other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molt.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions, skin rashes, psychological distress, and potential secondary skin infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans.