Bed Bug

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

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

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: 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.