Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm in length (roughly the size of an apple seed) when fully grown; nymphs are smaller.
Natural Habitat
Found globally in human dwellings, typically hiding in cracks, crevices, upholstery, mattresses, and bed frames during the day.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal pests that follow carbon dioxide and heat to find hosts; they undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis across five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to molt into the next stage.
Risks & Benefits
While not known to transmit diseases, their bites can cause allergic reactions, skin rashes, and significant psychological distress or insomnia. They offer no ecological benefits in human environments and are considered a major domestic pest.
Identified on: 4/19/2026