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).

Bed Bug

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