
Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found indoors in human dwellings, typically in cracks and crevices of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and surrounding furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded hosts, primarily humans)
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and highly secretive, emerging mainly at night to feed. They do not fly or jump, but crawl rapidly.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include painful, itchy bites, secondary skin infections from scratching, and severe psychological distress or anxiety. They offer no known benefits to humans.