Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Hemiptera: Cimicidae
Size: 1mm to 7mm (nymphs are smaller and translucent, adults are larger and reddish-brown)
Natural Habitat
Found in human dwellings, typically 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; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, five nymphal stages, and adult) and require a blood meal for each life stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions, skin rashes, and psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 2/19/2026