Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 1mm to 7mm (about the size of an apple seed when fully grown)
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically in cracks and crevices of beds, upholstered furniture, and walls near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on animal blood, 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, each requiring a blood meal to molt.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include physical reactions to bites like itching and welts, possible allergic reactions, and significant psychological distress or insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to their presence in human dwellings.