Hematophage
Guides
Cimex lectularius
common bed bug, bed bug
Cimex lectularius is a hematophagous ectoparasite in the family Cimicidae, primarily associated with human dwellings. The species has undergone a global resurgence since the late 1990s following decades of suppression by DDT and other insecticides. Populations show documented resistance to multiple insecticide classes including pyrethroids and pyrroles. The species comprises at least two host-associated lineages: one feeding on humans and another on bats.
Cimicidae
bed bugs, cimicids
Cimicidae is a family of small, wingless, blood-feeding parasitic insects comprising over 100 species. Members are obligate hematophages of warm-blooded vertebrates, primarily bats, birds, and humans. The family is notable for traumatic insemination, a unique reproductive strategy where males pierce the female abdominal wall to deposit sperm. Cimicids harbor bacterial symbionts in specialized mycetome organs that may assist with nutrient acquisition. The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is the most widely known member and a significant urban pest.
Siphonaptera
fleas, pireler (Turkish)
Siphonaptera (fleas) are small, wingless, holometabolous insects that are obligate ectoparasites of mammals and birds. Adults are 2–5 mm long, bilaterally flattened, and possess enlarged hind legs adapted for jumping. Larvae are legless, worm-like, and feed on organic debris including blood clots and adult flea feces. The order comprises approximately 2,500 described species, with roughly 94% parasitizing mammals and 6% specializing on birds. Some species are significant vectors of human and animal pathogens, including plague, typhus, and tularemia.