Species Cimex lectularius - Common Bed Bug

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Nasty little surprise - Cimex lectularius

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Infraorder Cimicomorpha

Superfamily Cimicoidea

Family Cimicidae (Bed Bugs)

Subfamily Cimicinae

Genus Cimex

Species lectularius (Common Bed Bug)

Explanation of Names

Cimex lectularius Linnaeus 1758

lectularius 'bed-related'

Size

5-9.5 mm

Identification

in C. hemipterus prothorax is less expanded laterally, and margins are less flattened; in bat bugs (several spp.) the pronotal fringe hairs are as long or longer than width of eye

Range

cosmopolitan(1)

Season

year-round

Food

blood of host animal

Life Cycle

multiple generations per year; mating occurs off the host and involves a unique form of copulation called ‘traumatic insemination’ whereby the male penetrates the female’s abdominal wall with his external genitalia and ejaculates into her body cavity. Adults live 6-12 months and may survive long periods without feeding.

Remarks

Introduced from Europe by early colonists. Suspected, but never proven, of transmitting 41 human disease organisms(1); may be naturally infected with several blood-borne pathogens, but is not effective as vector

Internet References

Fact sheet (Brooks 2014)(2)

Works Cited

1.	Catalog of the Heteroptera, or True Bugs of Canada and the Continental United States Thomas J. Henry, Richard C. Froeschner. 1988. Brill Academic Publishers.

2.	University of Florida: Featured Creatures

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 23 April, 2005 - 1:50am
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 20 January, 2019 - 9:25pm

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