Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm (adults), about the size of an apple seed.
Natural Habitat
Found worldwide in human dwellings, typically hiding in cracks, crevices, mattress seams, and bed frames near hosts.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal for each life stage transition.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include skin irritation, allergic reactions, and psychological distress from infestations; they are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 6/5/2026