Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm in length (adults); they appear reddish-brown and flat when unfed, and swollen after a meal.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily cracks and crevices near human sleeping areas, mattresses, and furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, feeding exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molts to the next stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, and allergic reactions. While they are not known to transmit diseases to humans, infestations are difficult and expensive to eradicate. No ecosystem benefits.