Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae

Size: 1mm (nymphs) to 5-7mm (adults); they are roughly the size and shape of an apple seed when fully grown.

Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Found globally in human dwellings, typically nesting in mattress seams, bed frames, cracks/crevices, and behind wallpaper or furniture near sleeping areas.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. They are attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide.

Behavior Patterns

Primarily nocturnal insects that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph stages, adult) and require a blood meal to molt into the next stage.

Risks & Benefits

They do not known to transmit diseases to humans, but their bites can cause itchy red welts, allergic reactions, insomnia, and psychological distress. They are considered high-priority pests but provide no known benefits to the indoor ecosystem.

Identified on: 4/26/2026