
Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (adults), roughly the size of an apple seed.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, and upholstered furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages (blood-feeders), typically feeding on human blood but occasionally on other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo hemimetabolous (gradual) metamorphosis through five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to molt at each stage.
Risks & Benefits
Significant household pest; bites can cause allergic reactions, skin rashes, and psychological distress. While not known to transmit diseases to humans, infestations are difficult and expensive to eradicate.