Bed bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm (roughly the size of an apple seed) when adult.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically in cracks, crevices, mattresses, and bed frames near sleeping hosts.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous (blood-feeders), primarily feeding on human blood during the night.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and are attracted to the carbon dioxide and warmth emitted by sleeping humans. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, and psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases but are difficult and expensive to eradicate.
Identified on: 6/6/2026