Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (adults), small and brownish-red in color.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments near human sleeping areas, including mattresses, bed frames, and furniture crevices.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (blood-eaters), primarily feeding on human blood at night.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide in dark crevices during the day and emerge at night, attracted by heat and carbon dioxide. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include allergic reactions to bites, skin rashes, and psychological distress. They do not typically transmit diseases. There are no known ecological benefits to human environments.