Common Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae

Size: 1 to 7 millimeters in length, depending on lifestage and when it last fed.

Common Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments primarily near human sleeping areas, including mattresses, bed frames, cracks, crevices, and carpets.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophagous (blood-eaters), primarily feeding on the blood of humans but may also feed on other warm-blooded animals.

Behavior Patterns

Mainly nocturnal; they hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and thrive in temperate climates.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, insomnia, and secondary infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans but are significant household pests. No known ecosystem benefits.

Identified on: 3/16/2026