Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: Adults are approximately 4 to 5 mm (about the size of an apple seed).
Natural Habitat
Typically found in cracks and crevices within human dwellings, particularly in furniture, bed frames, mattresses, and linens.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
They are nocturnal, emerging at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive for several months without a blood meal.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, and allergic reactions; however, they are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known ecosystem benefits.
Identified on: 3/19/2026