Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera / Cimicidae
- Size
- 1 mm to 7 mm (nymphs are smaller and paler; adults are similar in size and shape to an apple seed).
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically near sleeping or resting areas such as mattress seams, bed frames, cracks/crevices, and behind baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly hematophagous (blood-eaters), primarily feeding on human blood, though they may bite other warm-blooded animals if humans are unavailable.
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 progress to each life stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy red welts, allergic reactions, secondary skin infections from scratching, and significant psychological distress or insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to their presence in human dwellings.