Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (adults), roughly the size of an apple seed.
Natural Habitat
Typically found in human dwellings, living in cracks, crevices, mattresses, bed frames, and upholstered furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous insects, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult). They are known for hitchhiking on clothing and luggage to spread.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin welts and allergic reactions to bites; they can cause significant psychological distress and insomnia. They have no known benefits to the ecosystem or humans.