
Community identification
Bed Bug (Egg casing and fecal spotting)
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- Egg: 1mm; Adult: 4mm to 5mm (roughly the size of an apple seed).
Natural Habitat
Found in human dwellings, typically residing in mattress seams, bed frames, furniture, and behind baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal pests that 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 physical reactions like itchy welts, skin rashes, and potential allergic symptoms, as well as significant psychological distress. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans.