Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (adults)
Natural Habitat
Primarily indoors near human sleeping areas, including mattresses, bed frames, and floorboards
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (feeds exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals)
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal; they hide in dark crevices during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy bites, allergic reactions, and psychological distress. They are not known to transmit diseases but are significant household pests.