Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Found worldwide in human dwellings, typically nesting in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas, such as mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, furniture, and behind baseboards.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly hematophagous, feeding exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, with humans being the preferred host.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and cryptic, they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They are attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide. After feeding, they retreat to aggregation sites where they digest and mate.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Bed bugs cause itchy, red welts on skin, potential allergic reactions, sleep disturbance, and significant anxiety. While not known to transmit disease, their presence is a major nuisance. Benefits: None known for humans or household ecosystems.

Identified on: 3/6/2026