Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (roughly the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Primarily human dwellings, hiding in cracks, crevices, bed frames, and mattresses during the day.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, feeding exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that emerge at night to feed; they undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages that each require a blood meal to molt.
Risks & Benefits
Significant public health pests; while not known to transmit diseases, their bites cause intense itching, allergic reactions, psychological distress, and secondary skin infections from scratching.