Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm in length (roughly the size of an apple seed) when fully grown.
Natural Habitat
Primarily residential settings, hotels, and public transportation where humans are present; they reside in cracks, crevices, and seams of mattresses and furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nighttime feeders that are attracted to body heat and CO2 emitted by hosts; they undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis, passing through five nymphal stages before reaching adulthood.
Risks & Benefits
Significant health risks including skin rashes, allergic reactions, and psychological distress; they do not provide ecosystem benefits and are considered parasitic pests.
Identified on: 1/9/2026