Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: 1mm to 7mm (approximately the size of an apple seed when adult).
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily cracks and crevices near sleeping areas, mattresses, and furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that emerge from hiding at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive for months without a blood meal.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Significant nuisance, causes itchy red welts, allergic reactions, and psychological distress. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. Benefits: None.
Identified on: 1/9/2026