Bed Bug

Indoor environments close to human hosts; typically found in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, furniture seams, and cracks in walls or flooring.

Hematophagous (feeds exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded mammals, primarily humans)

Nocturnal and elusive; hides in tight crevices during the day and emerges at night to feed; attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide; tends to aggregate in clusters.

Risks: Bites cause itchy red welts, allergic reactions, anxiety, and insomnia; infestations are difficult and costly to remove. Benefits: None known in domestic settings.