Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera / Cimicidae
- Size
- 5 to 7 millimeters in length (about the size of an apple seed).
Natural Habitat
Found globally, primarily in human dwellings within cracks, crevices, mattresses, and furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, feeding exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, specifically humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night; they undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis consisting of five nymphal stages.
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit diseases but cause psychological distress and itchy, allergic skin reactions; they offer no ecosystem benefits in human environments.