Cimex
Cimex
Taxonomy
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Arthropoda
- Class Insecta
- Order Hemiptera
- Family Cimicidae
Final host
Mammals and birds
Morphology
Adults: wingless insects with an oval flattened body (≈ 5-7 mm long), red-brown in colour The antennae are long and four-segmented The compound eyes are placed laterally at the sides of the head The labium is three-segmented and reflected backwards under the head Nymphs are smaller than adults and lack mature genitalia
Cycle
Hemimetabolous with five juvenile (nymphal) stages They take refuge into cracks and crevices between bood meals
Location
Skin surface (only contact to feed themselves)
Feeding
Haematophagous (all stages)
Diagnostic
Adults and nymphs
Transmission
Adults and nymphs