
Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 5 to 7 millimeters in length (about the size of an apple seed).
Natural Habitat
Warm, sheltered crevices inside human dwellings, particularly near sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, and baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood-feeders, primarily targeting humans but occasionally feeding on other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Mainly nocturnal, emerging at night to feed. They move quickly and can survive for several months without a meal. They undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis, passing through five nymphal stages.
Risks & Benefits
A significant household pest. While not known to transmit diseases, their bites cause itching, psychological distress, and allergic reactions. They are difficult to eradicate once established.