Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm in length (about the size of an apple seed) for adults; nymphs are smaller and lighter in color.
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, specifically cracks and crevices near sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, headboards, and upholstered furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeders), primarily feeding on human blood, though they may bite other mammals or birds if humans are unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal pests that emerge at night to feed. They are attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive for months without a meal.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, and potential allergic reactions to bites. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to their presence in human environments; they are considered significant household pests.
Identified on: 3/23/2026