Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm (about the size of an apple seed) when fully grown; smaller and translucent as nymphs.
Natural Habitat
Dwellings where humans sleep, commonly found in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and cracks or crevices near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to molt to the next stage. They are known for hitchhiking on luggage or clothing to spread.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy allergic reactions to bites, skin rashes, and potential psychological distress or insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans but are considered a significant public health pest.
Identified on: 12/30/2025