Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm in length (about the size of an apple seed) for adults.
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, primarily in or around sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, cracks, and crevices.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous, feeding exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nictoventris (active at night); they are hitchhikers that spread via luggage or clothing. They go through five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to molt at each stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, psychological distress, and secondary infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to humans.