Community identification
Bed Bug (Engorged)
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (size increases and body rounds when engorged with blood)
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, found near human sleeping areas in cracks, crevices, mattresses, and furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous; feeds exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy bites, allergic reactions, secondary skin infections, and significant psychological distress; they are not known to transmit diseases to humans.