Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 5 to 7 mm in length (roughly the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, specifically sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, and headboards
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive, hiding in cracks during the day and emerging at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy, red welts, psychological distress, and potential secondary skin infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits in human environments.