Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 millimeters long (about the size of an apple seed).

Natural Habitat
Inhabits human dwellings, especially in cracks, crevices, mattress seams, bed frames, and furniture near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeders), primarily feeding on human blood, usually at night.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and are attracted to the carbon dioxide and warmth emitted by sleeping hosts. They have a hemimetabolous life cycle consisting of egg, five nymphal stages, and adult.
Risks & Benefits
Risk: They are a significant public health pest causing itchy welts, psychological distress, and potential allergic reactions. They do not typically transmit diseases. Benefit: None to humans or the ecosystem; they are considered household pests.
Identified on: 2/16/2026