Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae

Size: 1 mm to 7 mm (approximately the size of an apple seed when adult).

Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas such as mattresses, bed frames, and headboards.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages (blood-feeders), primarily targeting humans but also feeding on other warm-blooded animals.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal, hiding during the day and emerging at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to molt and reproduce.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy bites, allergic reactions, secondary skin infections from scratching, and significant psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to humans.

Identified on: 4/1/2026