Bed Bug
Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cimicidae
Size: 4 to 5 mm (about the size of an apple seed) for adults; nymphs are smaller and translucent.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, primarily in cracks and crevices of beds, mattresses, and furniture near human sleeping areas.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals, primarily humans.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal parasites that hide during the day and emerge at night to feed. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymphal stages, adult) and require a blood meal to molt into the next stage.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy skin rashes, psychological distress, and allergic reactions. While not known to transmit diseases, they are a significant pest. Benefit to ecosystem is negligible as they are primarily domestic pests.
Identified on: 2/16/2026