Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Cimicidae | Phylum Arthropoda Order Hemiptera Genus Cimex | |
Cimex lectularius is a species of cimicidae (bed bugs). Its primary hosts are humans.
Cimex lectularius is a widely distributed bed bug that plays a major role in human health due to its ability to transfer disease. ("C. lectularius") goes through five immature life stages that each require a blood meal to develop and move on to the next stage. Blood meals are necessary for each life stage in order to reproduce. They tend to feed exclusively on humans. ("C. lectularius") are obligate blood feeders. (weeks) ("C. lectularius") typically feed on hosts when they are asleep. Haematophagous insects can use body temperature, moisture, carbon dioxide and visual cues to locate a host. (Siljander) ("C. lectularius") is found all over the world in almost every area that has been colonized by humans (weeks).