Bed bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order Hemiptera, Family Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm long (about the size of an apple seed) for adults; nymphs are smaller and lighter in color.
Natural Habitat
Found globally indoors, primarily in cracks and crevices of furniture, mattresses, bed frames, and wall voids in close proximity to human sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on animal blood, with a strong preference for human blood.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymphal stages, and adult) and require a blood meal to molt into each successive stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, allergic reactions, and secondary infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans as vectors. There are no ecological benefits to humans; they are considered a significant domestic pest.
Identified on: 3/11/2026