Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Hemiptera: Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm long (adults), roughly the size of an apple seed; nymphs are smaller and more translucent.
Natural Habitat
Found globally in human dwellings, typically in cracks and crevices, mattresses, bed frames, and furniture near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans, usually at night.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and are attracted to the carbon dioxide and body heat of hosts. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph stages, adult).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, secondary skin infections from scratching, and significant psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans but are high-impact household pests.
Identified on: 3/15/2026