Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Hemiptera / Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm (about the size of an apple seed) for adults; nymphs are smaller and lighter in color.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily crevices near sleeping areas such as mattress seams, bed frames, and behind baseboards.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, sleep deprivation, and psychological distress. While they do not transmit diseases, they are difficult and expensive to eradicate. They offer no known ecosystem benefits in indoor environments.
Identified on: 4/16/2026