Community identification
Common Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 7 mm (adults), typically the size of an apple seed
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices of beds, headboards, and soft furniture where humans sleep
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages (blood-feeders), primarily feeding on human blood during the night
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal, cryptic insects that hide during the day. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (nymphs to adults) and require a blood meal to progress through each growth stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, and allergic reactions. While they are a major pest nuisance, they are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to their presence in human dwellings.