Common Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae

Size: 4 to 7 mm (adults), typically the size of an apple seed

Common Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices of beds, headboards, and soft furniture where humans sleep

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages (blood-feeders), primarily feeding on human blood during the night

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal, cryptic insects that hide during the day. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (nymphs to adults) and require a blood meal to progress through each growth stage.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, and allergic reactions. While they are a major pest nuisance, they are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to their presence in human dwellings.

Identified on: 4/19/2026