Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Found globally in human dwellings, particularly in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, and furniture.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.

Behavior Patterns

Mainly nocturnal and elusive, hiding during the day and emerging at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages, each requiring a blood meal to molt.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy welts, allergic reactions, and psychological distress/insomnia. While they do not transmit diseases to humans, they are a significant pest that is difficult and expensive to eradicate. They provide no known ecosystem benefits in human environments.

Identified on: 3/20/2026