Community identification
Bed bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm (adults)
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, particularly in cracks and crevices of mattresses, bed frames, furniture, and baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous; feeds exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis through five nymphal stages.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include painful, itchy bites, secondary skin infections from scratching, and psychological distress. They provide no known ecological benefits to humans.