Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Hemiptera: Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm in length (adults); nymphs are smaller and translucent-pink after feeding.
Natural Habitat
Found globally in human dwellings, typically residing in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and cracks or crevices near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. The reddish color in the image indicates a recent blood meal.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molt to the next life stage.
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit diseases but cause psychological distress, skin rashes, and allergic reactions from bites. They are considered a significant public health pest due to the difficulty and cost of eradication.
Identified on: 12/26/2025