Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm in length (roughly the size of an apple seed)

Natural Habitat
Found globally in human dwellings, typically hidden in mattress seams, bed frames, cracks, and crevices near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
They are nocturnal, emerging from hiding at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to progress through each growth stage.
Risks & Benefits
They are significant pests that cause itchy red welts and psychological distress. While not known to transmit diseases to humans, infestations are difficult and costly to eradicate.
Identified on: 5/22/2026