Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: 5 to 7 mm (about the size of an apple seed) when fully grown.
Natural Habitat
Primarily human dwellings, hiding in mattress seams, bed frames, cracks, and crevices near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly blood, primarily from humans but occasionally from other warm-blooded animals.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive months without a meal.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Their bites cause itchy red welts and can lead to anxiety, insomnia, or allergic reactions. Benefits: None to the ecosystem; they are considered a major pest.
Identified on: 6/1/2026