Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: 5 to 7 millimeters in length (about the size of an apple seed).
Natural Habitat
Primarily indoor human environments, including mattresses, bed frames, furniture, and cracks/crevices in walls.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Mainly nocturnal; they emerge at night to feed and hide during the day. They go through five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal between each molt.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, insomnia, and psychological distress. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 1/8/2026