Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Hemiptera / Cimicidae
Size: 4 mm to 7 mm in length (adults are roughly the size of an apple seed).
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, specifically cracks and crevices near sleeping or resting areas, mattresses, bed frames, and upholstered furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
They are nocturnal, elusive pests that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal for each life stage transition.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include red, itchy welts from bites, psychological distress, and allergic reactions; while not known to transmit diseases to humans, infestations are difficult and costly to eradicate. They offer no ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 3/22/2026