Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera / Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (adults), roughly the size of an apple seed.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, particularly in and around sleeping areas such as mattresses, box springs, and electrical outlets.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, feeding exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive, they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis consisting of five nymphal stages.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy welts, allergic reactions, secondary skin infections, and significant psychological distress; they are not known to transmit diseases to humans.