Bed bug

Indoor environments, primarily hiding in cracks of mattresses, box springs, headboards, and furniture frames.

Obligate hematophagous parasite feeding exclusively on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals.

Nocturnal and highly secretive, emerging primarily at night to pierce skin and feed before retreating to dark harborages. Females lay hundreds of eggs in secluded crevices.

Bites cause itchy, red welts and potential secondary skin infections from scratching; they are not known to transmit human pathogens.