Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Hemiptera (True Bugs), Cimicidae

Size: Adults are approximately 4–5 mm long (about the size of an apple seed); nymphs range from 1 mm to 4 mm.

Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Typically found indoors, especially in sleeping areas like mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and behind headboards. They hide in cracks and crevices during the day.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous (blood-feeders), feeding primarily on human blood, usually at night while the host is sleeping.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and cryptic, they emerge to feed on sleeping hosts. They are attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide. After feeding, they retreat to hidden aggregations.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Bites can cause allergic skin reactions, itching, anxiety, and insomnia. While not known to transmit diseases directly, their presence is a significant nuisance and difficult to eradicate. Benefits: None known in domestic environments.

Identified on: 2/20/2026