Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Hemiptera / Cimicidae

Size: 1 to 7 millimeters (about the size of an apple seed); eggs are 1mm while adults are larger.

Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments close to human hosts, especially bedrooms; they hide in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and cracks in furniture or walls.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous (blood feeders); they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive; they emerge at night to feed on sleeping hosts. They do not fly or jump but crawl quickly. They aggregate in hidden crevices when not feeding.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Their bites cause itchy red welts, anxiety, and sleep loss. While not known to transmit disease, infestations can be psychologically stressful and difficult to eradicate. Benefits: None known.

Identified on: 2/28/2026