Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Hemiptera: Cimicidae

Size: 4 to 5 mm (adults), roughly the size of an apple seed.

Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Dwellings, specifically in cracks, crevices, mattresses, and bed frames near human sleeping areas.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeders), primarily targeting humans but also other warm-blooded animals.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal; they emerge at night to feed and hide during the day. Their life cycle includes five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to molt at each stage.

Risks & Benefits

While not known to transmit diseases, their bites cause intense itching, allergic reactions, and psychological distress. They are difficult to eradicate and have no known ecosystem benefits in human environments.

Identified on: 1/30/2026