Blood-engorged Bed Bug

Typically found in human dwellings, hidden in cracks, crevices, mattresses, bed frames, and furniture near sleeping areas.

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.

Nocturnal insects that emerge at night to feed. They go through five nymphal stages, requiring a blood meal to molt to the next stage. They can survive for months without feeding.

Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, and allergic reactions to bites. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known benefits to humans or the ecosystem.