Bed bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: Adults are approximately 5 to 7 mm in length (about the size of an apple seed).
Natural Habitat
Typically found in indoor environments, specifically living in cracks and crevices near where people sleep, such as mattresses, bed frames, and furniture.
Diet & Feeding
They are hematophagous, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
They are nocturnal, emerging at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive for several months without a blood meal.
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit diseases, but their bites can cause itching, allergic reactions, and skin infections from scratching. They also cause significant psychological distress and are an expensive nuisance to eradicate.
Identified on: 4/30/2026