Bed Bug

Found globally in human dwellings, typically hiding in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and cracks or crevices near sleeping areas.

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

Mainly nocturnal; they emerge at night to feed and retreat to dark hiding places during the day. They go through five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to molt into each successive stage.

Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, and allergic reactions. While they do not reliably transmit diseases, their presence causes significant nuisance and cost for eradication. There are no known benefits to humans or ecosystems.