Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm in length (about the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Found indoors, primarily in crevices of mattresses, box springs, headboards, and furniture frames near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous; feeds exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and highly secretive. They hide in dark cracks and crevices during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis through five nymphal stages.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy, allergic skin welts from bites, secondary skin infections from scratching, and psychological distress/anxiety due to infestations. They provide no known ecological benefits to humans.