Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- Approximately 4 to 5 mm in length (about the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices of beds, upholstered furniture, and walls near sleeping areas
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (feeds exclusively on blood), primarily from humans
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis from egg to nymph to adult
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy bites, allergic reactions, and psychological distress. While not known to transmit diseases, they are significant domestic pests that are difficult and expensive to eradicate