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
Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas, such as mattresses, bed frames, headboards, and luggage.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. They use a piercing-sucking mouthpart to feed.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they are most active at night while hosts are sleeping. They undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to progress through each of the five nymphal stages.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, and psychological distress/insomnia. While they are not known to transmit diseases to humans, infestations are difficult and expensive to eradicate. They offer no known benefits to humans or household ecosystems.