Bed Bug (unfed and engorged nymph stages potentially shown)
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: 1.5 mm to 5 mm (depending on life stage and feeding status)
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices, mattresses, bed frames, and furniture near human sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, specifically humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (nymphs to adults) and require a blood meal for each molt.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, secondary skin infections from scratching, and significant psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known ecosystem benefits for this pest.
Identified on: 6/8/2026