Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: Approximately 4 to 5 millimeters in length (about the size of an apple seed)
Natural Habitat
Commonly found in residential dwellings, particularly in and around beds, mattresses, and furniture within close proximity to human sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous insects; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide in cracks and crevices 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, significant psychological distress, and potential secondary skin infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 1/15/2026