Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae

Size: 4 to 5 mm (adults), roughly the size of an apple seed.

Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Found primarily in human dwellings, hidden in mattress seams, bed frames, furniture, and cracks/crevices near sleeping areas.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive. They hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molt to the next stage.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, skin infections from scratching, and significant psychological distress or insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known ecological benefits.

Identified on: 1/11/2026