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
Human dwellings, specifically beds, furniture, and cracks/crevices near sleeping areas
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, each requiring a blood meal to molt
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, sleep deprivation, and psychological distress. They are medical pests but are not known to transmit diseases to humans