Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4–5 mm (about the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Found indoors in human dwellings, typically in mattress seams, bed frames, cracks, and crevices.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal, hiding during the day and emerging at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to progress to each stage.
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit diseases but cause itchy, red welts and psychological distress. Infestations can be difficult and costly to eradicate.