Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: Adults are approximately 4-5 mm in length (about the size of an apple seed), while nymphs are smaller, ranging from 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm.
Natural Habitat
Typically found indoors in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas, such as mattresses, box springs, bed frames, furniture seams, and behind electrical outlets or baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on blood), preferring human blood but will feed on other warm-blooded animals if humans are unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive, emerging at night to feed on hosts attracted by CO2 and body heat. They hide in clusters during the day and can survive several months without feeding.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Bed bugs cause itchy, red welts on the skin and can cause significant psychological distress, anxiety, and insomnia. They are not known to transmit disease but are major household pests that are difficult and expensive to exterminate. Benefits: None known for humans or household ecosystems.
Identified on: 2/27/2026