Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae
Size: 4–5 mm long as adults (about the size of an apple seed); smaller and translucent as nymphs.
Natural Habitat
Found globally in human dwellings, typically hiding in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and cracks or crevices near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages (blood-eaters), primarily feeding on human blood, though they may feed on other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that emerge at night to feed. They go through five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to molt at each stage. They are flattened to hide in tight spaces.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, skin infections from scratching, and significant psychological distress or insomnia. Not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known ecological benefits to their presence in human homes.
Identified on: 1/11/2026