Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Hemiptera: Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm (roughly the size of an apple seed) for adults; nymphs are much smaller and translucent.
Natural Habitat
Found globally in human dwellings, typically hiding in mattress seams, bed frames, cracks, and crevices near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Mainly nocturnal; they emerge from hiding at night to feed. They are attracted to heat and carbon dioxide. After feeding, they retreat to secluded locations to digest and reproduce. They have a hemimetabolous life cycle (egg, nymph, adult).
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin welts, allergic reactions, psychological distress, and secondary infections from scratching. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans. There are no ecological benefits to humans; they are considered significant indoor pests.
Identified on: 3/5/2026