Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius): Biology and their Role as Pests to Humans

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are blood feeding ectoparasites that have evolved as human pests due to their unique biology and reproduction. Common side effects of bed bug bites include: skin lesions, localized inflammation, itchiness and anxiety. There are numerous control methods to reduce bed bug populations such as vacuuming, steaming, laundering, exposure to extreme temperatures and chemical eradication methods. Bed bugs have become resistant to pyrethroid insecticides and DDT, supporting the cosmopolitan reemergence of bed bugs in the last couple decades.