Bed bug

Natural Habitat

Human dwellings, specifically in cracks and crevices, mattresses, bed frames, and upholstered furniture.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

Primarily nocturnal insects that emerge from hiding at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and are known for hitchhiking on luggage or clothing to spread.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, sleep deprivation, and psychological distress. While they can carry pathogens, they are not known to be effective biological vectors of diseases to humans. They offer no ecosystem benefits in a domestic setting.

Identified on: 4/6/2026