Common Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm in length (adults), roughly the size of an apple seed.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices near human sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, and baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to progress through each growth stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include skin irritation, allergic reactions to bites, and psychological distress. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to their presence in human dwellings.
Identified on: 1/7/2026