Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Dwellings, especially beds (mattresses, bed frames), upholstered furniture, cracks and crevices in walls, electrical outlets. They prefer dark, secluded areas close to their hosts.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly hematophagous, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. Nymphs and adults feed.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal feeders, emerging from hiding spots to feed on sleeping hosts. They are attracted to carbon dioxide and body heat. They can go long periods without feeding (several months to over a year under ideal conditions). Female bed bugs lay 1-12 eggs per day, typically gluing them to surfaces in their hiding spots.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include itchy red welts from bites, allergic reactions (in some individuals), secondary skin infections from scratching, and psychological distress. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known direct benefits to humans or the ecosystem, though they are part of the broader insect biodiversity.

Identified on: 10/7/2025