Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Found globally in human dwellings, typically nesting in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and cracks or crevices near sleeping areas.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive; they emerge at night to feed and hide during the day. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molt into the next life stage.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, skin rashes, and psychological distress/insomnia; while they are not known to transmit diseases to humans, infestations are difficult and expensive to eradicate. There are no known benefits to the ecosystem or humans.

Identified on: 3/28/2026