Common Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, specifically in proximity to human sleeping areas. They hide in mattress seams, bed frames, cracks and crevices, and behind wallpaper during the day.

Diet & Feeding

Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. Feedings typically occur at night while the host is asleep.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult). Nymphs require a blood meal to molt. They are attracted to carbon dioxide and body heat to find their hosts.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress (insomnia/anxiety), and potential allergic reactions to bites. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans but are considered a major urban pest that is difficult to eradicate. They provide no known ecosystem benefits in human habitats.

Identified on: 1/14/2026