Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 5 to 7 mm (adults)
Natural Habitat
Primarily indoors near human sleeping areas, including mattresses, bed frames, and floorboards
Diet & Feeding
Blood from humans and occasionally other warm-blooded animals
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that hide in cracks during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages.
Risks & Benefits
Humans experience itchy bites and psychological distress; they are not known vectors of disease but can cause severe infestations that are difficult to eradicate.