Bed Bug

Natural Habitat

Primarily human dwellings, especially beds, mattresses, bed frames, furniture, and cracks/crevices near sleeping areas. Can also be found in hotels, movie theaters, public transportation.

Diet & Feeding

Exclusively hematophagous, meaning they feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans. They typically feed at night when their host is asleep.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal, hiding during the day in seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, and other furniture. They emerge at night to feed. They are attracted to carbon dioxide exhaled by hosts and body heat. They are skilled hiders and can survive for several months without a blood meal.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include itchy red welts from bites, allergic reactions (ranging from mild to severe), secondary skin infections from scratching, and psychological distress (anxiety, insomnia). They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no known benefits.

Identified on: 9/23/2025