
Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, specifically beds, furniture, and cracks/crevices near sleeping areas
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous, feeding exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed; they undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages requiring blood meals to molt
Risks & Benefits
Significant nuisance pests that cause itchy bites and psychological distress; they are not known to transmit diseases to humans, but can cause allergic reactions in some individuals