Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae

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

Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Primarily found in human dwellings, hidden in cracks, crevices, mattresses, and bed frames.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate blood-feeders, primarily targeting humans but will feed on other warm-blooded animals.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).

Risks & Benefits

Significant nuisance pest. Risks include itchy welts, allergic reactions, psychological distress, and potential secondary skin infections from scratching; they are not known to transmit diseases.

Identified on: 2/13/2026