Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Bed bugs are found in human dwellings and other places where people sleep or rest, such as homes, hotels, dormitories, and public transportation. They prefer to hide in mattresses, bed frames, headboards, cracks in walls, furniture, and luggage, close to their feeding source.

Diet & Feeding

Bed bugs are hematophagous, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. They pierce the skin with their elongated mouthparts (proboscis) to withdraw blood.

Behavior Patterns

Bed bugs are primarily nocturnal, feeding on sleeping hosts. They are attracted to warmth, carbon dioxide, and certain chemicals. They hide in cracks and crevices during the day, emerging to feed, typically for 5-10 minutes. Females lay 1-12 eggs per day, totaling 200-500 eggs in their lifetime. Nymphs mature in about a month under optimal conditions, molting five times before reaching adulthood.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include itchy red welts from bites, allergic reactions, secondary skin infections from scratching, and psychological distress (anxiety, insomnia). They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known direct benefits of bed bugs to humans or the ecosystem, though they are part of the food chain for some predators in natural environments.

Identified on: 9/4/2025