Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found in human dwellings, typically hiding in cracks, crevices, mattress seams, and furniture near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals)
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal creatures that emerge at night to feed. They hide during the day and undergo incomplete metamorphosis through five nymphal stages.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Bites cause itchy, red welts and psychological stress; they are a major household nuisance and very difficult to eradicate. Benefits: None known to humans.