Bed Bug

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius

Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae

Size: 4 mm to 7 mm (roughly the size of an apple seed)

Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Found globally in human dwellings, typically nesting in mattress seams, bed frames, furniture, and wall crevices near sleeping areas.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive; they emerge from hiding at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and require a blood meal to progress through each growth stage.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, secondary skin infections from scratching, and psychological distress/insomnia. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to humans.

Identified on: 1/12/2026