Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Hemiptera / Cimicidae

Size: 4 to 5 mm (unfed adult), larger and deeper red when engorged with blood.

Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, specifically cracks and crevices near sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, and baseboards.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophage; feeds exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal pests that emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive months without a meal.

Risks & Benefits

Significant nuisance pest. Causes itchy bites, allergic reactions, and psychological distress. Not known to transmit diseases to humans but infestations are difficult and costly to eradicate.

Identified on: 6/28/2026