Bed bug

Natural Habitat

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

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. They use a piercing-sucking mouthpart to feed.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive; they are most active at night while hosts are sleeping. They undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to progress through each of the five nymphal stages.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, and psychological distress/insomnia. While they are not known to transmit diseases to humans, infestations are difficult and expensive to eradicate. They offer no known benefits to humans or household ecosystems.

Identified on: 4/17/2026