Common Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order Hemiptera; Family Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm (roughly the size of an apple seed) when fully grown.
Natural Habitat
Human dwellings, specifically sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, headboards, and cracks or crevices near beds.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that stay hidden during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molt into the next stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, and psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known ecological benefits to human environments; they are considered significant pests.
Identified on: 1/6/2026