Community identification
Bed Bug
Cimex lectularius
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Cimicidae
- Size
- 4 to 5 mm in length; about the size of an apple seed when adult.
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, primarily found in cracks and crevices of beds, mattresses, and furniture near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeders), primarily targeting humans but also feeding on other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) requiring a blood meal to progress through each life stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, and allergic reactions; they are not known vectors of disease. There are no ecological benefits to their presence in human environments.