Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order Hemiptera; Family Cimicidae
Size: 4 mm to 5 mm (adults), appearing roughly the size and shape of an apple seed.
Natural Habitat
Found globally in human dwellings, typically nesting in cracks, crevices, mattress seams, and bed frames near sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophagous; they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and can survive for months without a blood meal.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy bites, allergic reactions, secondary skin infections from scratching, and significant psychological distress; they are not known biological vectors of disease. There are no ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 6/1/2026