Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera / Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 7 mm (approximately the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically cracks and crevices within or near human bedding and sleeping areas
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (feeds exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans)
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal, cryptic lifestyle; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (eggs, five nymphal stages, and adults) and must take a blood meal to progress to the next stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include red, itchy welts and psychological distress/insomnia. While not known to transmit diseases to humans, they are persistent indoor pests. There are no ecological benefits to humans.