Bed Bug

Found globally in human dwellings, typically in cracks and crevices, mattresses, bed frames, and upholstered furniture.

Hematophagous (blood-feeding); primarily feeds on human blood, but will bite other mammals and birds if humans are unavailable.

Nocturnal, hiding during the day and emerging at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to progress through each growth stage.

Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, and secondary skin infections from scratching. They are significant psychological stressors but are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to their presence in human environments.