Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera / Cimicidae
- Size
- Approximately 4–5 mm (adults), smaller in nymph stages; comparable to the size of an apple seed.
Natural Habitat
Found globally in human dwellings, typically nesting in mattress seams, bed frames, furniture, cardboard, and behind baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans, through specialized piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis, requiring a blood meal to progress through each of their five nymphal stages.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include physical reactions such as itchy welts, skin rashes, and potential allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). They are known to cause significant psychological distress, anxiety, and insomnia. They have no known benefits to humans or the indoor ecosystem.