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

Commonly found in human dwellings, specifically in or near beds, furniture, and cracks/crevices where humans sleep.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeding); they primarily feed on human blood but can feed on other warm-blooded animals.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal insects that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive for months without a meal.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Causes itchy, red welts from bites, allergic reactions, and significant psychological distress/insomnia. Benefits: None to humans or the ecosystem; they are considered a major pest.

Identified on: 4/24/2026